A three-day Lalon festival has begun at Chheuriya Akhrabari in Kumarkhali, Kushtia, marking the 134th death anniversary of the subcontinent’s Baul king, Fakir Lalon Shah.
The festival is celebrated under the spiritual slogan "Serve humanity, become a golden human," a message famously preached by Lalon.
The festival was set to be officially inaugurated on Thursday evening by Farida Akhtar, the interim government adviser on fisheries and livestock.
Lalon followers from across the country have already started gathering at Lalon’s shrine, with Akhrabari coming alive with the music of Baul singers. The grounds are filled with small gatherings of Lalon’s followers, creating a vibrant atmosphere.
Thousands started arriving in Chheuriya a week before the festival. In honour of Lalon's death anniversary, more than a hundred temporary stalls and lodging spaces have been set up near the shrine and along the banks of the Kali River.
Groups of followers and visitors have formed clusters across the shrine grounds, transforming the area into a meeting place for Lalon enthusiasts. The Lalon Academy has taken steps to clean and decorate the premises, while followers sing Lalon’s songs and discuss his teachings.
The main rituals will begin on Thursday night at the Lalon Academy, with the evening ceremony led by the gurus, followed by an all-night worship session.
One of the key attractions of the festival is a rural fair set up near the open stage by the Kali River. Vendors from various regions have gathered to sell their goods, and rides have been arranged for people of all ages.
To ensure the safety of the event, the local administration has implemented extensive security measures. Along with police and RAB, army and BGB personnel will be deployed, supported by members of the navy and Ansar.
Acting deputy commissioner Sharmin Akhtar expressed confidence that the event would be a success, with thousands of attendees enjoying the three-day festival in harmony.
On the first of Kartik in 1890, the renowned spiritual leader and Baul emperor Fakir Lalon Shah passed away.
Since then, the Lalon Academy and the district administration have been organizing this death anniversary commemoration at the shrine in Cheuriya, Kumarkhali upazila.