The government has announced a series of nationwide events to commemorate the 135th death anniversary of mystic saint and philosopher Lalon Shah, one of the most revered figures in Bangladesh’s spiritual and cultural heritage.
The announcement was made earlier yesterday through the official Facebook page of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.
The celebrations, to be held from October 17 to 19, will culminate in major Lalon Utshab (Lalon Festival) gatherings in Kushtia and Dhaka, bringing together devotees, bauls and admirers from all corners of the country.
In Cheuria, Kushtia, home to the iconic Lalon Akhra, the three-day festival will turn the saint’s shrine into a vibrant hub of music, mysticism and reflection.
The sacred grounds will echo with bhaav-geeti, baul gaan and open discussions exploring Lalon’s timeless philosophy of equality, love and spiritual freedom.
Celebrated performers including TunTun Baul, Sunil Karmakar, Rowshan Fakir, and Latif Shah, along with hundreds of bauls and fakirs, are set to perform throughout the event, continuing the living tradition of Lalon’s legacy through music and song.
Simultaneously, Dhaka will host a special Lalon Utshab on October 18 at Suhrawardy Udyan, featuring an eclectic line-up of contemporary and traditional performers such as Emon Chowdhury and Bengal Symphony, Band Lalon, Band Baula, Pothik Nobi, Arup Rahi, Nirab and Bauls, Suchona Shely and Samogeet.
For more than a century, the Lalon Utshab has remained a cornerstone of Bangladesh’s cultural identity, a festival that not only celebrates the music of the bauls but also upholds Lalon’s universal message of unity beyond caste, religion, class and creed.
This year’s nationwide observance aims to reaffirm that message, reminding a new generation of Lalon’s enduring call for spiritual liberation and human harmony.
