The Bauls believe that God is hidden in a man’s heart and man has to find Him through his own efforts. Neither temple nor mosque nor any ritual nor priest can help him. The Bauls call God “Moner Manush” which literally means “the person in one’s heart”. Their views are liberal and many famous Baul composers have been Muslim. Lalon Fakir was one of the most famous among them.

The Baul songs are mostly solo performances strumming their “Ektara” (an instrument with a single string). There many be others accompanying the singer with other instruments like the khol (a type of drum), kartal (cymbal type instrument) and harmonium (an instrument like a keyboard), among others. The accompanists and the audience join the singer in singing the phrases of the song which are repetitive.

Purnadas Baul is among the Bauls living who have made it big. He travels all over the world for his performances. Other Bauls who are not so renowned can be found in village fairs, the fair held in the Kenduli village of Birbhum district of Bengal in January being the largest among them.