Chhuria Akharabari in Kushtia is once again resonating with the spirit of Dol Purnima as the annual memorial festival of the Baul saint Fakir Lalon Shah commenced on Monday (2 March).
Organised by the Lalon Academy, in collaboration with the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Kushtia District Administration, the event will continue until noon on Tuesday (3 March).
Traditionally, thousands of devotees, Baul singers and visitors gather around Lalon’s shrine. This year, however, the festival has been scaled down to respect the holy month of Ramadan.
Cultural programmes, Baul song performances and rural fairs have been cancelled, with the focus instead on Sadhu Sanga and spiritual discussions.
According to the Sadhu Sanga schedule, Guru Karjo will take place on Monday evening, followed by the Adhibas Seba at night, which includes khichuri. On Tuesday morning, Ballyo Seba will feature prayers, concluding with the Purna Seba at noon, comprising rice, fish, vegetables, pulses and curd.
Deputy Commissioner Md. Iqbal Hossain said the saints will observe rituals in their customary way, while the administration will provide security and logistical support.
Superintendent of Police Mohammad Jasim Uddin confirmed that security measures include CCTV surveillance, alongside the police, Ansar and volunteer deployment.
In recent years, Lalon festivals and Baul song gatherings have faced disruptions due to objections from various groups. For instance, the Mahat Sadhu Sanga and Lalon Mela in Narayanganj was cancelled in November 2024 amid threats from Hefazat-e-Islam. Similarly, the Lalon Memorial Festival in Madhupur, Tangail, was closed in February 2025 for the same reason.
Last year, the government designated October 17, the day of Lalon’s death, as a national ‘K’ category day. This marked the first time the Lalon festival was celebrated on a national level, with a three-day fair in Kushtia and simultaneous events across 64 districts, including Dhaka. That full-scale festival, however, faced criticism for corporate involvement.
Some devotees lament the reduced schedule this year, noting that the traditional three-day gathering of saints has been compressed into a single day.
Yet many also see the quiet atmosphere as an opportunity for deeper reflection, spiritual practice, and immersion in Lalon’s teachings. Without the usual crowd, participants can absorb the Baul saint’s message of humanity more fully.
Lalon was not merely a Baul singer; he was a non-sectarian humanist philosopher. Rejecting distinctions of religion, caste, colour, tribe and gender, he placed the highest value on human beings. Central to his philosophy was the idea of the ‘man of the mind’, the undiscovered entity of the heart where ultimate truth resides.
Lalon believed that the Creator is not confined to temples or mosques but resides within the hearts of people, and that love, service and respect for others are the path to salvation.
He challenged social hierarchies with his question, “How many people are there in the world?” emphasising that the identity lies in one’s humanity.
Lalon’s liberal, inclusive philosophy remains a cornerstone of Bengali culture, promoting the message of non-difference against narrow-mindedness.
In an era marked by religious and social division, Lalon’s teachings on human equality are more relevant than ever.
huruThe Akhrabari festival is thus more than a ceremonial event; it is a quiet affirmation of the timeless principle of recognising the human within every human being.
