A note of farewell now lingers in Fakir Lalon Shah's Akhra Bari. From Sunday evening, the fairgrounds of the saints have begun to disperse. With the conclusion of Adhibas, Balyaseba and Purnaseba rituals, this year's Sadhusang has formally come to an end. What remains now is the time of departure.

The three-day Sadhusang and rural fair, marking the 135th death anniversary of Fakir Lalon Shah, began on Friday. This year, a record number of sadhus, spiritual mentors, and devotees gathered at Cheuriya in Kushtia. Strict security measures were in place for the visitors' safety.

On Sunday evening, Fakir Mamun Shahabul spoke to this correspondent at the Akhra Bari. "The main programme is over. I'll try to head back by tomorrow," he said. "If Sai grants his grace, I'll return during Dol Purnima."

Mamun added, "Every time I come here, I feel a unique kind of joy. But when it's time to leave, my heart resists. Sai's web of affection pulls me back again and again. That pull is what brings me here every year."

Standing near the shrine was Hriday Sadhu, who came all the way from Faridpur. "I've been visiting Sai's Akhra Bari for 30 years," he said. "Whenever I come here, my heart feels calm and my mind fills with peace. That serenity keeps me going on the long journey ahead."

This year, for the first time, the Lalon Memorial Festival was observed at the national level. Alongside Kushtia, the event was also celebrated at Dhaka's Suhrawardy Udyan. According to Kushtia Deputy Commissioner Abu Hasnat Mohmmad Arafin, nearly 1.2 million people attended the Sadhusang and rural fair, jointly organised by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Kushtia district administration.

Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak was the keynote speaker at the inaugural session.

As convener of the Lalon Academy by virtue of his office, DC Abu Hasnat Mohmmad Arafin said, "To ensure smooth movement of 10–12 lakh visitors, the district administration and law enforcement agencies worked tirelessly. Thankfully, no untoward incident occurred."