3-day Lalan Festival kicks off in Kushtia

In memory of legendry mystic bard Baul king Lalan Shah, a three-day Lalon festival kicked off at Lalan Akhra of Cheuria in Kushtia from Thursday.

The festival will feature Lalan Mela, discussion and musical soiree every day.

The Lalan Academy in association with the Ministry of Cultural Affairs is organising the event.

On the occasion, the shrine of Fakir Lalan 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 superintendent of police 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 Shahinur Rahman will present the keynote paper on the occasion.

Kushtia now turns into a town of festival.

The mystic songs of Lalan 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 and plain clothed Detective Police will remain deployed around the venue.

Lalan 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.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net