With a Large Number of Female Bauls

By Amanur Aman, "Lalon Smaran Utsab held in Chheuria" - The Daily Star - Dhaka, Bangladesh
Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Smaran Utsab (Memorial Festival) was held -starting from March 22- at the Lalon Akhra (den), Chheuria.

The programme highlighted the philosophy of Lalon [Lalon Shah Fakir (c.1774–1890)]. On the occasion, the akhra saw an influx of devotees and admirers from all over Bangladesh and overseas. An attraction of the event was a Baul Mela.

The festival is held annually to celebrate Dol Purnima. The celebration was introduced by Lalon. In a departure from the norm, a large number of female bauls took part at this year's festival.

The programme was inaugurated by the Divisional Commissioner of Khulna, Yunusur Rahman. Kushtia Deputy Commissioner Nepur Ahmed chaired the event. Among others, Lalon exponent Professor Abul Ahsan Chowdhury of Islamic University Kushtia; Superintendent of Police Kushtia, Moslehuddin Ahmed and Additional Deputy Commissioner Kushtia, Pulok Ranjan Saha spoke at the programme.

Among the bauls who took part at the Utsab was Rehana Fakirani, from Pakkol village, Daulatpur upazila. Rehana embraced the baul doctrine 30 years ago. According to her, “I was in search of peace, which I found in Lalon's philosophy. I experience deep devotion and tranquillity when I come to the akhra.”

Also noticeable were a large number of teenage bauls. Among them were Santo and Sanu who were wandering around playing ektaras. When approached, they said that they were taking dikkha (tutelage) from their Guru Nahir Saha.

The festival also attracted some visitors from overseas. Masud, from Malaysia, said that he was already acquainted with Lalon's songs and message.

Lalon's songs fuse two streams of spiritual thought -- Sufism and Vaishnav (the Krishna cult).
The link that connects these two schools of thought is mysticism.

Research shows that Dol Purnima has been celebrated for around 200 years. The festival is organised with donations from well-wishers.

Lalon used to organise the event by himself at his den. After his demise, his shishyas (disciples) carried on the tradition. They formed a committee called Mazaar Sharif and Seba Sadan Committee.

The committee initially organised various programmes at the akhra. However, they were driven out of the akhra in 1982 by the then government. Later, the Lalon Academy was formed to look into akhra affairs. In the course of time, the Utsab has turned into a government-initiated programme.

The bauls fervently follow their customs. According to their philosophy, every religion is on par and division of mankind in the name of religion is unacceptable.

Following Lalon's teachings, they prefer to shun worldly desires.

[About Baul music read also: (click and scroll down) http://sufinews.blogspot.com/search?q=By+Sabrina+F.+Ahmad+]

[Pictures: Bauls perform Lalon songs at the festival in Chheuria. Photo: STAR
Tomb and Shrine of Lalon Fakir: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kushtia_District].