Mystic songs in air of Kushtia

JOY GURU! Bauls have started to camp centring the Lalon shrine in Kushtia's Chheuria. They will render songs of Lalon and reread the bard's philosophy throughout the five-day festival that begins tomorrow. Photo: Star

Lalon Akhra in Kushtia's Chheuria is humming with visitors from both home and abroad as a five-day Lalon Smaran Utsab kicks off tomorrow.  
The memorial festival has become a tradition after the demise of Lalon.
Devotees and Bauls (mystic minstrels) usually flock to the akhra (shrine) during the Bangla month of Falgun (February-March) to commemorate the mystic by rendering his songs.

To Lalon, man's heart is the only place where God resides, whom he calls as 'moner manus' (the quest). Lalon's philosophy was to strive to find that 'moner manus'.
The most intriguing thing about the festival is that it has interested the foreign visitors these days.   
Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Bangladesh Li Jun is expected to grace the occasion on the inaugural day.
Solascki Rodham, who has come all the way from the Netherlands to visit the akhra, said Baul songs had taken an important place in Bengali culture.
There are several others like him beyond Bangladesh who take interest in this form of music, he added.
The Baul music bears a rich cultural heritage of the country, which has developed through a long process of interactions, and harmonisation of different manners, customs and practices.

In 2005, the Baul tradition was included in the list of “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

Visitors, other than Bauls, also have started to pour in from home and abroad. Photo: Star

Rashid Askari, professor of the Department of English at Kushtia University, said the philosophy of Lalon's songs could lead us to peace and happiness in this age of social unrest, political hostility, cultural aggression and religious intolerance.
Organised by the Lalon Academy, the festival will be attended by lawmakers Abdur Rouf (Kushtia-4) and Mahbubul Alam Hanif (Kushtia-3), Islamic University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Abdul Hakim Sarker and Khulna Divisional Commissioner Ashoke Kumar Biswas.   
A five-day Baul Mela will also be held on the sidelines of the festival.