United News of Bangladesh

The annual Lalon festival at Chheuriya Akhrabari in Kumarakhali upazila of Kushtia district, traditionally held over three days on the occasion of Dol Purnima, will be observed for one day this year due to Ramadan. Every year, the Akhrabari premises fill with devotees, Bauls and spiritual leaders, with songs and a rural fair adding to the festive atmosphere. This year, however, there will be no cultural programs or fair. With the support of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the district administration, the observance will be limited to discussion sessions and hospitality for Baul singers, concluding at noon on Tuesday, said acting caretaker of the Akhrabari, Mashiur Rahman. Around 10–12 lakh people attend Lalon Fest 2025 in Kushtia: Farooki Traditional spiritual gatherings will follow established rituals. Several days ahead of the festival, Baul singers and Lalon devotees have already started arriving at the Akhrabari. Groups are taking seats, exchanging thoughts and singing Lalon’s songs, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Observers visiting on Saturday afternoon noted the fervent participation of devotees. Lalon’s philosophy of inclusion, harmony, compassion, humanity transcends national borders: Pranay Verma Fakir Fahim, a visitor from Dhaka, said, “We look forward to these days all year. During the Dol festival, Bauls and spiritual leaders from home and abroad come here and share their thoughts.” Mizanur Rahman, an American expatriate attending for the first time, said, “I have been listening to Lalon’s songs since childhood. Here, I could experience their essence. Fakir Lalon preached love for humanity beyond caste, creed, or religion.” Sadhu Tofazzel Hossain from Manikganj said he had arrived a few days early, drawn by Lalon’s message of love and compassion. He noted that the festival would be smaller this year due to Ramadan. Shanto Fakir from Chuadanga said the festival coincides with a sacred day during Dol Purnima, when Lalon Fakir used to gather disciples and devotees for spiritual and intellectual discourse. “Being here nurtures self-purification and enhances mental and theoretical knowledge,” he added. Mashiur Rahman said the festivities would begin on Monday evening with Gurukarya, followed by Rakhial service, midnight Adhibash, Balya service at dawn on Tuesday and conclude with Purna service at noon. The observance would be limited this year and public turnout might be lower due to Ramadan, he added. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Farzana Akhtar said CCTV cameras have been installed around the shrine for security and sufficient police and Ansar personnel will be deployed. Village police, volunteer teams and medical staff have also been organized to assist visiting Bauls, devotees, and spectators.

Marking the 134th death anniversary of Bangladesh’s most revered philosophical figures and mystic poet Fakir Lalon Shah on October 17, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) is all set to host a three-day festival, starting from Thursday. A press conference detailing the event was held on Wednesday at 3 pm in the National Theatre Hall seminar room at BSA, where the academy briefed journalists about the festival. Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Dr Syed Jamil Ahmed, Secretary Salahuddin Ahmed, newly appointed directors and officers of various departments of the academy joined the press conference, where it was announced that the inauguration of the festival will be held tomorrow at 6 pm at the National Theater Hall Auditorium. BSA gets six new departmental directors Sharmin Murshid, Adviser to the Ministry of Social Welfare and Women and Child Affairs, will inaugurate the first day's program titled 'Ashasindhu Teerey', which will be chaired by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Director General Syed Jamil Ahmed. BSA Fine Arts Director Mustafa Zaman will deliver the welcome speech, while artists Arup Rahi and Zahura Fakirani will share songs and thoughts, influenced by Lalon's ideology. The second day (Friday, October 18) will feature the Sadhumela "Manush Bhojle Shonar Manush Hobi" at the academy's Nandan Mancha at 6 pm. Dr Syed Jamil Ahmed will chair the event, while Mehjabeen Rahman, Director of BSA's Music, Dance, and Recitation Department, will deliver the welcoming remarks. Saturday, October 19, will be the festival's third day, featuring a two-part event. The first session will begin at 4 pm in the National Theatre Hall's seminar room with a discussion titled "Jatisottar Prosno Ebong Baul-Fakir Poribeshonar Rajniti" (The Question of National Identity and the Politics of Baul-Fakir Performance), and the keynote presentation will be presented by Rajshahi University professor and researcher Dr A Al Mamun. BSA hosts art, music, dance and film appreciation courses The event will be presided over by Dr Syed Jamil Ahmed, and the welcoming address will be delivered by Abdul Halim Chanchal, Director of BSA's Production Department, while the discussion will be joined by notable speakers including Dr Mohammad Azam, Director General of Bangla Academy; journalist-writer and Director General of the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) Faruk Wasif, and Dr Shahman Moishan, dramatist and associate professor at Dhaka University. The second part of the ceremony will start at 7 pm at the National Theatre Hall auditorium featuring a special Lalon memorial seminar titled ‘Dhoro Manush Rup Nehare’. Dr Asif Nazrul, Adviser to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, will deliver the keynote speech at the event, while BSA Production Department Director Abdul Halim Chanchal will deliver the welcoming address. Dr Syed Jamil Ahmed will preside over the seminar, which will also be joined by journalist-fiction writer and newly appointed Managing Director and Chief Editor of the Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Mahbub Morshed as a discussant. The event will also feature enthralling cultural performances by renowned artists. Detailing the three-day event, BSA Director General Dr Jamil said that the cost of the three-day event will be displayed on the academy website. He requested the cooperation of journalists in promoting the festival. Besides, the Director General highlighted the implementation of three goals in Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy - bringing back administrative transparency, financial transparency and efficiency. BSA welcomes Falgun in style, bids farewell to the Pitha Ustab  The three-day Lalon Festival will be open to general visitors at the venue based on immediate registration. Dr Jamil also hoped that through this festival, the cultural stagnation in the capital would be reduced and Lalon's non-communal philosophy would spread among all, including the young generation.

After a Covid-induced hiatus of two years, a three-day festival remembering the legendary Baul Lalon Shah will begin on Tuesday evening. The Lalon Academy, in association with the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Kushtia district administration, is organising the event at Lalon Akhra in Chheuria village of Kumarkhali upazila. Khulna divisional commissioner Md Ismail Hossain Khan will inaugurate the festival at 6.45pm. Also read: Three-day Lalon festival beings today in Kushtia Hundreds of admirers from home and abroad have already gathered at Lalon Akhra to take part in the festival. The festival will feature open discussions, singing of Baul songs by artistes of Lalon Academy and prominent singers, fair and cultural performances. Traders who have put up stalls on the banks of the Mora Kali river for the rural fair, a part of the festival, are hoping for good sales as devotees have already thronged the Akra premises.

A three-day festival is scheduled to begin on Sunday afternoon at Lalon Akhra in Chheuria village in Kumarkhali upazila remembering the legendry Baul Lalon Shah.