বাংলা 
English 
Immersed in the message of humanity, equality and non-communalism stood the Lalon Akhrabari at Cheuriya. With thousands of bauls, sadhus, Lalon devotees and visitors in attendance, the three-day observance concluded last Monday (19 October) evening. The majar courtyard resounded with overflowing crowds, songs and devotion, discussions and heartfelt reminiscences of Lalon.
The concluding discussion meeting was held at the Lalon Majar stage at 4pm on Monday. State Minister and Member of Parliament for the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit attended as chief guest. In his address he said Fakir Lalon Sai's humanistic philosophy and ideals are extremely important for society. Lalon's songs, teachings and theoretical thought can play a role in the welfare of people, the development of society and the expansion of spiritual knowledge. He laid emphasis on taking society forward embracing Lalon's philosophy and humanist consciousness.
Chief guest Anindya Islam Amit also highlighted the pride and toil of the people of Kushtia centring Lalon. His address dwelt on the importance of serving and doing good to people through literature, humanity, culture and spirituality. Alongside Lalon's philosophy, he drew on Rabindranath Tagore's literature and culture to underline the importance of humanist values. Essayist Professor Dr Ahmed Shafik Hasami spoke as the main discussant at the event. Special guests included reserved-seat Member of Parliament Mosa Farida Yasmin, Kushtia Superintendent of Police Md Aminul Islam, former MP for Kushtia-4 Bir Muktijoddha Syed Mehedi Ahmed Rumi, BNP national executive committee member Barrister Ragib Rauf Chowdhury and district BNP organising secretary Engineer Zakir Hossain Sarkar. Netrokona University vice-chancellor Professor Dr Md Khaled Uzzaman took part in the discussion. Additional District Commissioner (General) Md Mizanur Rahman gave the welcome address, and the chair was taken by Deputy Commissioner and Lalon Academy president Md Tawhid Bin Hasan.
The stage of the concluding discussion meeting of the 136th Tirodhan Dibas.
Centring the three-day festival, the Lalon Akhrabari at Cheuriya turned into a meeting point of bauls, sadhus and Lalon devotees. The majar courtyard came alive with the footsteps of devotees arriving from different parts of the country. Some came in memory of their beloved sadhak, some to hear Lalon's songs, and others drawn by his humanistic philosophy. Lalon's songs in the voices of the bauls and the ambience of sadhusanga in the akhra created a feeling of a different kind. To devotees, Lalon is not merely a sadhak; he is the philosophy of finding the human being within. The teaching he left — to see people as human beings, rising above caste, religious divides and social identities — is what draws them to Cheuriya. Many return to this akhrabari year after year. For some it is a place to seek peace of the soul, for some the pull of roots, and for others an occasion to reconnect with the memory of a beloved guru. During the festival days the majar courtyard and surrounding areas were illuminated. Centring the Lalon Mela, a festive mood was seen across various roads and key areas of Kushtia town too. The presence of people grew at different spots of the town with the footsteps of visitors from far and wide. Stalls, food arrangements and displays of various goods were set up around the fair, and local people too grew busier around the festival.
Towards the concluding stage of the festival, the matter of security came up in discussion. It was the keen vigilance of Lalon devotees that spotted a bomb-like object near the main gate of the akhrabari, and the security forces were informed immediately. On an emergency basis a bomb disposal team came from Dhaka and deactivated the object. In the meantime, however, some rumour-mongering quarters spread false information online day and night to defile the event, which was utterly shameful. Thanks to everyone's awareness and the swift action of the security forces, no unpleasant incident was allowed to happen in the end.
Thanking everyone concerned for the successful completion of the festival, Kushtia Deputy Commissioner and Lalon Academy president Md Tawhid Bin Hasan said the attempt was made to complete this grand event within a limited scope. With everyone's cooperation it was possible to bring it to a successful end. He also expressed the expectation of making the Lalon commemoration and the fair more dynamic, beautiful and orderly in the future. The Deputy Commissioner highlighted the combined efforts of the various quarters associated with the event — the baul-sadhu community, law-enforcement agencies, volunteers, journalists and officials and staff of the administration. Managing such huge crowds, ensuring visitors' safety and running the event were major tasks in which everyone's cooperation was vital, he said.
Speaking as a special guest at the concluding event, Kushtia Superintendent of Police Md Aminul Islam said Lalon spoke of the welfare of all people, disregarding caste and distinctions. He spoke of the happiness, peace and well-being of all created beings and taught people to walk the good and simple path. But those who push people towards slander and division are the truly unfortunate. Welcoming the thousands of Lalon devotees and visitors arriving from home and abroad on behalf of the people of Kushtia, the Superintendent of Police said his expectation was that the guests would return to their destinations carrying the hospitality and sincerity of the people of Kushtia. He also expressed the hope that they would carry with them the memory of Kushtia's repute, heritage and history.
At the concluding event, Additional District Commissioner (General) Upasechib Mizanur Rahman said two grand events centring Lalon are held in Kushtia every year in the field of cultural heritage. The successful realisation of these events reflects the sincerity, goodwill and combined cooperation of the people of Kushtia. He expressed the hope that in future too, in any adverse and critical situation, the people of Kushtia would stand by in the same way with sincerity and cooperate closely to make the events a success.
For the bauls, sadhus and Lalon devotees, this three-day observance was a special occasion to unite in memory of their beloved sadhak. Some returned with memories of songs, some with the experience of sadhusanga, and others with the urging to understand Lalon's humanistic philosophy anew. Though the festival has ended at Lalon's akhrabari, the appeal of his songs and philosophy never ends. The question of how far society can embrace the message of equality, humanity and non-communalism he left behind comes to the fore anew. With the festival's closing note returned Lalon's eternal call — to love people, to stand by people, and to walk the path of humanity rising above division.
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