Kushtia, Mar 1 – In memory of legendary mystic bard Baul king Lalon Shah, a three-day Lalon festival kicked off at Lalon Akhra of Cheuria village of the district from Thursday. The festival will feature Lalon Mela, discussion and musical soiree every day.The Lalon Academy in association with the Ministry of Cultural Affairs is organising the event.
On the occasion, the shrine of Fakir Lalon Shah has got a festive look and hundreds of devotees from home and abroad has thronged the Akhra.
With Deputy Commissioner of Kushtia Jahir Raihan in the chair, local lawmaker Mahbubul Alam Hanif will attend the ceremony as chief guest.
Kushtia Police Super SM Mehedi Hasan, Zila Parishad Chairman Haji Rabiul Islam, District Awami League President Sadar Uddin Khan and General Secretary Azgar Ali will be special guests.
Islamic University Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Shahinur Rahman will present the keynote paper on the occasion. Kushtia now turns into a town of festival.
The mystic songs of Lalon Shah reverberate at his den on the occasion.
A good number of floating vendors have set up different kinds of shops on the festival venue.
Additional security measures have been taken to ensure security of the entire occasion and visitors. Police, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and plain clothed Detective Police will remain deployed around the venue.
Lalon Shah was a Bengali baul, mystic, songwriter, social reformer and secular thinker. He has become an icon of religious tolerance and secularism in Bengali culture. – UNB
