বাংলা 
English 
"Close to home is Arshinagar, and there my neighbour dwells" - on this slogan, the three-day observance of the 129th Tirodhan (death anniversary) of Baul Samrat, the mystic sage Fakir Lalon Shahiji, and the Lalon rural fair began on Wednesday. On this occasion, the courtyard of Shaheeji's Baramkhana Akhra at Cheuria in Kushtia is teeming with human gems.
The mystic sage Baul Samrat Fakir Lalon Shah is an unforgettable figure in the consciousness of Bengal. Hidden in the very midst of his songs lies the secret of creation. Communion with the Creator is the central mantra of his songs. This mystic sage laboured to bring all human beings, irrespective of caste, creed and colour, into one stream of affection. The Sangeet of Baul Samrat Fakir Lalon Shahiji still inspires us today. The Akhra courtyard will be transformed into a meeting ground of sadhus, gurus and Bauls. With the cooperation of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the district administration, all preparations at the Akhra courtyard have been completed under the aegis of the Kushtia Lalon Academy on the occasion of Tirodhan Dibas Pala. True to the saying "Know man by diving into man", gurus and devotees from home and abroad have come in groups and pitched camp at Shaheeji's mazar, drawn by the pull of the soul to receive the initiation on the true path of humanity. As per the well-known tradition, this three-day observance is being held again. For the past several years the custom of beginning it five days before has been followed at that courtyard.
Whether our cultural heritage or the inspiration of the changing times, the programme-series of the Baul Samrat's 129th Tirodhan Dibas has been arranged over three days to give this mantra a concrete form. From five or six days before the main festival began, the Baul sages who came to the Akhra pitched camp at different spots of the mazar and went on singing the mystic, heartfelt and esoteric songs of Shaheeji. Today Lalon Shah's Akhra courtyard is a hive of activity. Kushtia has become the city of the festival. With the cooperation of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and under the aegis of the Lalon Academy, the three-day observance of the 129th Tirodhan Dibas of Baul Samrat the sage Fakir Lalon Shah will run from Wednesday 16 October to Friday 18 October. A few days ago the building of the stage at the Akhra courtyard and the stall of the Lalon fair was completed, and the washing and cleaning of the mazar finished. The inaugural ceremony of the three-day Tirodhan Dibas (death anniversary) observance of Baul Samrat Fakir Lalon Shah will be performed by Awami League joint general secretary and MP for Kushtia-3 Mahabubul Alam Hanif. Under the chairmanship of Kushtia district administrator Md. Aslam Hossain, the special guest speech at the observance will be given by MP of Kushtia-2 (Bheramara-Mirpur) and Jasda party chairman Hasanul Haq Inu, MP of Kushtia-1 (Daulatpur) A. K. M. Sarowar Jahan Badsha, MP of Kushtia-4 (Khoksa-Kumarkhali) Byaristhar Selim Altaf George, Khulna Range DIG Dr. Khandker Mohid Uddin, Kushtia Police Super SM Tanvir Arafat, chairman of the Kushtia district council Rabiul Islam, district Awami League president Sodor Uddin Khan, general secretary Azgar Ali, and PP Advocate Anup Kumar Nandi. As the main discussant there will be Professor Dr. Shahinoor Rahman, pro-vice-chancellor of Kushtia Islamic University. The discussant will be Mohammed Ali, chief khadem of Lalon's mazar. The welcome speech will be given by Azad Jahangir, additional district administrator (general) of Kushtia. The vote of thanks will be given by member of the Lalon Academy's ad hoc committee and secretary NDC A B M Ariful Islam.
Lalon Academy president and Kushtia district administrator Md. Aslam Hossain said, 'For the first time in the museum an account of Lalon's life has been prepared. Beginning from his coming here and up to the building of the hermitage, the various memories of the last phase of his life have been presented. And all arrangements have been made for the Bauls and sadhus around the observance.'
Kushtia Police Super SM Tanvir Arafat said, 'Setting security aside, watch is being kept through six entry points. So far a huge quantity of drugs has been seized. Nearly 600 police will be mobilized. Besides, there will be checkposts on the river.'
It is to be noted that when, under the tyrannical rule of the British ruling class, the life of the ordinary village man was being crushed, it was precisely at that time, holding to the path of truth and giving the initiation of the guru to man, that there appeared at Cheuria in Kumarkhali the Baul Samrat Fakir Lalon Shah, the guide to the path of humanity of that day. Although there are different views among different people about Lalon's birthplace, the secret of his birth still remains unknown. He was childless. Because of financial hardship he could not receive institutional education. Yet he was learned through self-education. It is said that in his youth he set out on pilgrimage to attain full grace, and that event brought about the transformation of his youth and his entry into the life of sadhana. During the pilgrimage he fell seriously ill and his companions left him. Later, after recovering his life at the hermitage of Molom Shah, he took fakiri initiation at the side of the sage Siraj Sai. On 3.02 acres of land donated by his devotee Molom Shah, Lalon built his Akhra in 1834. At first a large thatched house was built there for his dwelling and sadhana. In that very house he lived out his sadhana-bhajan. From the founding of the Cheuria Akhra until his death he remained busy with his disciples and devotees. He composed nearly a thousand songs. On 17 October 1890 this mystic sage, the Baul Samrat, gave up his body in the morning, and he was buried in the midst of the very house of his sadhana-bhajan. After the discussion, in the second phase, Lalon Sangeet will be presented on the Lalon stage by various artists and cultural organizations. In it the opening prayer-song will be performed by the most revered Guru Nahir Shah and his devoted Baul fakirs. After that, renowned Kushtia artist Shahanaj Beli, a regular Lalon Sangeet artist of Bangladesh Betar and Television, together with Samir Baul and local artists, will present Lalon's songs. The musical performance will continue until deep in the night.
Information source: Arif Mehmud - Andoloner Bazar
