Lalon Festival 2016 commences

The festival will see many events such as musical events, discussions on Lalon’s philosophy, Lalon's fair and so on. Followers of Lalon have been arranging this event ever since the death of Lalon in October 16, 1890. The festival serves as meeting of Lalon lovers across the country. The star attraction of Lalon’s Mazaar at Cheuriya is the holding of the Lalon festivals twice a year—once on Dol-Purnima in the month of Falgun (February-March) and then on his death anniversary in October. During the festivals, the Lalon akhra is visited by thousands of bauls and devotees from across the country and West Bengal. They get together and observe the festival amid daylong and nightlong renderings of Lalon-songs. It is said that Lalon Fakir has composed about ten thousand songs of which only two to three thousand are still traceable while others are consigned to oblivion or are living in the memory of his numerous followers. However, quantity does not matter when it comes to Lalon songs. What counts is quality, and the eternal universal messages they carry. The haunting melody of his songs capture people’s hearts and helps them realise the error of their ways, often defined as “our sweetest songs that tell of saddest thoughts.”