Kushtia is the cultural soul of Bangladesh. While other districts might claim economic or political power, Kushtia claims the heart. It is the land of Lalon Shah, the mystic philosopher whose songs define the spirituality of the Bengali people. The Lalon Akhra in Cheuria is not just a shrine; it is a universe unto itself. Twice a year, during the Lalon festival, this place transforms into a sea of white robes, ektaras, and smoke. Devotees and tourists from all over the world gather to sit on the floor and listen to songs that deconstruct religion, caste, and society. The atmosphere is hypnotic. You can smell the ganja and the incense, and you can feel the rhythm of the music vibrating in the ground. It is a place where the rigid rules of society seem to dissolve into music. But Kushtia is also the home of Rabindranath Tagore. The Kuthibari at Shilaidaha is where the Nobel laureate spent a significant part of his life managing his family estate. It was here, overlooking the Padma River, that he translated the Gitanjali. The red brick mansion is beautifully preserved, surrounded by mango orchards. Taking a boat ride on the Padma near Shilaidaha, especially at sunset, gives you a glimpse of the landscape that inspired the greatest poetry in the Bengali language.
Geographically, Kushtia is defined by the Gorai River, a distributary of the Ganges. The river is the lifeline of the town, and the Renwick Bundh is a popular spot for evening strolls. The district is also a powerhouse of industry, but of a specific kind. It is famous for the BRB Cables factory, which has put the district on the industrial map, but historically, it was the home of the Mohini Mills, once the largest textile mill in Asia. While the mill is gone, the weaving tradition remains. The Kumarkhali area is famous for its textiles, particularly bedsheets and lungis. Kushtia also holds a significant place in railway history. The Jagati Railway Station is the first railway station in East Bengal, built during the British era. Seeing the old, crumbling structure gives you a sense of how long this region has been connected to the wider world.
Culinary travelers have a specific target here: Tiler Khaja. This is a dry, flaky sweet made from sesame seeds and sugar. Watching the artisans pull the hot sugar syrup on wooden hooks to create the layers is a spectacle in itself. The sweet is crunchy, nutty, and iconic. Then there is the Kulfi. The Kulfi of Kushtia is legendary for its creaminess, often sold by street vendors in clay pots. The dialect of Kushtia is considered by linguists to be the purest form of standard Bengali, making the conversations here sound like they are lifted from a textbook. Kushtia is a district that feels intellectual, artistic, and deeply philosophical, a place where music and poetry are as important as oxygen.