Legacy of Atish, Chaitanya, and Lalon discussed on 2nd day of Charyapada revival festival

The second day of the Charyapada Revival Festival 2025 highlighted the deep spiritual and cultural legacy of Bengali mystic traditions through a seminar titled "The Legacy of Charya-Sadhana: Atish–Chaitanya–Lalon."

The event took place at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, organised by the Bhavnagar Foundation.

The programme featured performances of various verses from the ancient Charyapada, with spiritual artists from across the country participating. Notable performers included Shah Alam Dewan (Barishal), Antor Sarkar (Manikganj), Sheela Mallick (Shariatpur), and Fakir Abul Hashem (Pabna), among others.

The keynote address was delivered by Dr Keith E. Kantu, a Harvard University researcher, who emphasized the spiritual continuity from Charyapada to the teachings of Lalon Sai, Atish Dipankar, and Islamic Sufi traditions. "This revival connects us to our ancient roots of spiritual practice and humanist philosophy," he said before performing Charyapada verse 28 and selections from Lalon and Sheikh Zahid's works.

Other speakers, including poet Rajib Das and Baul singers from various districts, reflected on how the messages of Atish Dipankar, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and Lalon Sai remain relevant in today's society, promoting harmony, devotion, and the celebration of inner human wealth.

The festival will conclude on Friday (July 11) with a training workshop, live performances, and a closing ceremony recognizing contributors to the Charyapada revival movement. The closing address will be delivered by poet Farhad Mazhar, educationist Dr Sukomal Barua, and Dr Jinbodhi Bhikkhu.