Devotees, Baul practitioners and spiritual followers have gathered at Chheuriya Akhrabari in Kushtia as the annual Dol Purnima celebration at the shrine of mystic poet Lalon Shah begins today (2 March).
This year’s observance is being held on a reduced scale due to Ramadan. Unlike previous years, the traditional three-day festival featuring musical performances, cultural events and a bustling rural fair has been shortened to two days. Organisers have suspended entertainment programmes and the fair, placing greater emphasis on spiritual rituals, philosophical discussions and welcoming visiting Bauls.
Even ahead of the official opening, groups of followers had begun arriving at the shrine grounds several days earlier. On Saturday afternoon, devotees could be seen singing Lalon’s songs and engaging in reflective conversations, an enduring feature of the annual gathering.
According to the shrine’s acting caretaker, Mashiur Rahman, the event is being organised with assistance from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the local administration. The formal programme is scheduled to conclude at noon on Tuesday (3 March).
Rituals will commence this evening with Gurukarya, followed by Rakhial service and the midnight Adhibash ceremony. The Balya service will take place at dawn tomorrow, culminating in the Purna service at midday.
Authorities have put enhanced security measures in place around the shrine. CCTV monitoring has been installed, and members of the police, Ansar, village police and volunteer teams will remain deployed throughout the event. Medical personnel have also been arranged to provide assistance to visitors.
Despite the scaled-back schedule, organisers expect the gathering to retain its spiritual essence, as devotees come together to honour Lalon’s enduring legacy of mysticism, humanism and harmony.
