Nine-day Baul fair at Jabra Bazar in Gheor ends with an evening of Lalon songs

The 31st annual Urs and Baul fair of Khalapagli at Jabra Bazar in Baniajuri union of Gheor upazila, Manikganj, has ended. The event closed on Friday night with a session of Lalon songs.

The fair began on 22 October and ran for nine days.

On the closing night, artists of the Baramkhana Lalon Band performed songs until midnight.

The special session, which began at 8pm on Friday, featured popular songs of Lalon Sai, including 'Shunile Pran Chomke Othe' and 'Bhobe Manush Guru Nishtha Jar, Sorbo Sadhon Siddho Hoy Tar'.

The fairground came alive with the sounds of ektara, dugdugi, mandira, dhak and tabla. Some listeners sat with their eyes closed, while others swayed to the music.

Alongside Lalon songs, the programme included Baul songs, bichar songs, bhab baithaki, songs of separation, social jatra performances and plays.

Visitors came not only from the local area but also from surrounding localities.

Several hundred shops were set up on the fairground, selling furniture, food, jewellery, cosmetics, pottery, spices, sweets and daily necessities, as well as children's toys and household goods.

The fair was inaugurated by district Jubo Dal president Kazi Mostak Hossain Dipu. The chief guest was S A Jinnah Kabir, member of parliament for Manikganj-1. Baniajuri union BNP president Advocate Yusuf Ali, general secretary and UP chairman S R Ansari Biltu, shrine committee president Abul Kashem and general secretary Muktar Uddin Ahmed (Bindu), among other local dignitaries, were present.

At the closing Lalon evening, Baramkhana Lalon Band artists Jui Baula, Tuktuki Baul, Mukta Parveen and Subarna Parveen performed, and the programme was conducted by Md Nibir Khan.

Organising committee president Abul Kashem and general secretary Muktar Uddin Ahmed (Bindu) said that although technology has brought many forms of entertainment within reach, people's attraction to Baul songs and folk fairs in rural areas has not faded, and the nine-day event was proof of that.

The organisers said some visitors came to listen to songs, some to walk around the fair and some to shop, and that for many, Lalon's songs were an occasion to meet oneself.