Lalon death anniversary observed

The festival is a regular phenomenon held every year, on the occasion of death anniversary of Fakir Lalon Shah. This year marks his 116th death anniversary. The day-long programme was organised by Lalon Academy.

On the occasion, the akhra is usually decorated. But, this time with Ramadan on, the function was low key.

The programme included only a discussion at Lalon Academy complex. Kushtia Deputy Commissioner Jahangir Alam inaugurated the programme, while additional deputy commissioner MA Ahad was special guest. Oddly enough, no Lalon researcher or exponent was invited to the programme. The fakirs who are listed in Lalon Academy took part in the programme.

Though the function ended abruptly, the festive spirit lingered on as the Mazar Sharif and Seba Sadan Committee (MSSSC), a committee formed just after the death of Lalon, organised a separate programme to observe the death anniversary at 'Akhra Bari', near the Lalon shrine. This programme was held on October 17.

According to experts, the real torchbearers of Lalon's spiritual legacy are the fakirs who have held regular programmes to commemorate the bard's life.

The Lalon Academy has had a chequered history. The successive government formed a body and named it Lalon Academy. The academy's mandate was to oversee the akhra. In the course of time, all programmes have turned into government activities. Now Lalon Academy Complex launches an annual programme through government funding.

Several fakirs expressed their anger at the curtailment of the programme. As one said, "We follow the Ohey Daniyat religion. This does not go against the other spiritual schools of thought; we have the right to observe our religion in our way like the others."