Three-day Lalon Festival begins

The three-day Lalon Smaran Utshab (Lalon Memorial Festival) will begin at the shrine of Lalon Shah at Chheuria in Kushtia today.

Introduced by Lalon himself, the festival is held every year to celebrate Dol Purnima.

Lalon Academy, a locally elected body to look after the bard's shrine, is organising the festival with the assistance of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.

The organisers have completed all arrangements to ensure an enjoyable festival. 

Mahbubul Alam Hanif, joint general secretary of Bangladesh Awami League and lawmaker of Kushtia-3 will inaugurate the event.

The event features discussions, a musical programme featuring baul songs and a Lalon Mela.

Meanwhile, a large number of bauls and devotees of Lalon have gathered at the shrine to commemorate the creator, promoter and pioneer of a genre of folk songs.

Renowned Indian baul Purna Das Baul has arrived in Kushtia to join the celebrations. Purna Das urged authorities concerned to take immediate steps to preserve the original tune of Lalon songs.

 “I see a vast difference between the songs many bauls are singing today and the original tunes that Lalon left behind,” Purna Das said.

"Baulism is a way to the path of truth," Purno Das said.

The festival will wrap up on Friday night.