The spirit of Fakir Lalon Shah will echo through New York this month as artists and admirers gather to honour the late Farida Parveen, the legendary voice who brought Lalon’s mystic songs to the world stage.
Titled ‘The International Lalon Festival 2025‘, the day-long celebration will be held on October 19 at Queens Palace from 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm (local time).
Organised by Lalon Parishad USA in collaboration with Bangladesh Club USA, the event carries the theme ‘Manush bhojle shonar manush hobi’ (Revere humanity and you will awaken the golden self within).
The festival will open with a performance by acclaimed Baul singer Shafi Mondal, while New York State Senator Joseph P Addabbo Jr will attend as chief guest.
Performers from both Bangladesh and the diaspora, including Rizia Parveen, Shahnaz Belly, Shwapnil Shojib, Kala Mia, Shimul Khan, Reshmi Mirza, Melal Shah, Karim Howlader and Shahin Hossain will take the stage, alongside special dance presentations by Mithun Dance Academy and Fusion Dance Troupe USA.
Farida Parveen, often hailed as Lalonkonna, is being celebrated for her lifelong dedication to preserving Lalon’s philosophy of spiritual equality and humanism. Her influence, organisers said, continues to inspire new generations of musicians around the world.
According to organisers, enthusiasm within the Bangladeshi community in the US has been “extraordinary,” signaling a strong cultural connection that endures across generations and continents. Beyond music, the festival aims to foster deeper global engagement with Lalon’s message: humanity transcends caste, creed and borders.
