The High Commission of India, Dhaka, held a musical evening, “Lalon Sandhya”, on 16 October 2025 to mark the 135th death anniversary of Fakir Lalon Shah.
The High Commission of India, Dhaka, organised a musical evening ‘Lalon Sandhya’ at Chhayanaut Auditorium in the city on Thursday evening to mark the 135th death anniversary of Fakir Lalon Shah on 16 October 2025, according to a press release.
The program, held in the Liberation War Museum auditorium, also featured rich tributes to the Queen of Lalon Geeti, Farida Parveen. A galaxy of artistes, literary and music lovers, including youth from diverse walks of life, graced the convention.
The programme was organised to pay tribute to the mystic poet, philosopher and humanist Fakir Lalon Shah, as a symbol of shared cultural and spiritual heritage between India and Bangladesh.
(l–r) Performers perform during a musical evening, named “Lalon Sandhya”, held at the compound of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, on October 16, 2025. The event had been arranged to mark the 135th death anniversary of Fakir Lalon Shah. Courtesy
Lalon was born in the area that is now Kushtia (in Bangladesh), and his call for harmony amongst religions, denial of caste, class and ritualism, and message for human unity are quintessentially Indian — an extension of India’s bhakti cum Sufi movement and Bengal’s Baul tradition. His songs are still being sung in both nations; their lyrics remind people of a shared history and values of peace, tolerance, and inclusiveness.
The night also featured musical tributes to Farida Parveen (1954–2024), the most celebrated exponent of Lalon songs and one of Bangladesh’s most revered cultural figures. Awards and honours. She was awarded several honours, including the Ekushey Padak Award (1987) and the Bangla Academy Literary Award (2019). Her soulful renditions would render the spiritualist’s untimely messages appealing to the universal.
Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma delivers a speech at the musical evening, ‘Lalon Sandhya’, organised by the Indian High Commission in Dhaka on 16 October 2025 to mark the 135th death anniversary of Fakir Lalon Shah. Courtesy
According to Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma, who spoke during the inaugural address for the series, India and Bangladesh are connected culturally and spiritually – a connection that is borne out in the folklore of Lalon Shah.
The High Commissioner also said that Lalon’s messages of integration, harmony, compassion and humanity go beyond geographical frontiers and continue to inspire the two nations in their joint cultural odyssey.
Eulogising Parveen, the high commissioner said that, through her music, she connected generations and countries — in her performances at numerous festivals in India and Bangladesh, she served as a cultural ambassador between the two countries. He said that today’s event was not only about remembrance but also about celebrating the joint cultural heritage of Bangladesh and India.
Performance in the music evening “Lalon Sandhya’ organised by the Indian High Commission on Oct 16, 2025, marking the 135th death anniversary of Fakir Lalon Shah. Courtesy
In a tribute to Farida Parveen, the programme opened with song tributes to Farida Parveen, who caused nostalgia and awe, attaining an unparalleled height in preserving and popularising the Lalon tradition. This was followed by a Presentation of her Hindi songs, translated by former Indian High Commissioner Muchkund Dubey; a flute rendering by her husband, Ekushey Padak recipient and receiving artist Gazi Abdul Hakim; melody singing by her disciple Beauty; and group singing by students of Ochin Pakhi Cultural Academy.
The cultural part featured impressive solo renditions by Chandana Majumdar and Kiran Chandra Roy, both acclaimed for sustaining Lalon’s heritage in modern-day Bangladesh. Baul music by Tuntum Baul and his group from Kushtia captivated the audience.
A function named “Lalon Sandhya” was held at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka on October 16, 2025, to mark the 135th death anniversary of Fakir Lalon Shah.
Renowned writer of Lalon Biswa Sangha, Abdel Mannan, delivered the keynote address on the teachings, philosophy, life & works of Lalon, and on how they have become more significant in the contemporary world. The evening ended with a high-energy, youthful rendition of Band Lalon featuring Sumi, showing that Lalon’s message is just as relevant today. Famous actor Afzal Hossain was the host of the night, stringing precious beads of both Lalon’s life and messages between different performances in the evening.
“Lalon Sandhya” paid tribute to Fakir Lalon Shah and Farida Parveen, on the one hand, and celebrated the deep cultural bond that links Bangladesh with India – a relationship based on common traditions, languages, music, and philosophy.