Buddha Purnima today

Buddha Purnima, the biggest religious festival of the Buddhist community, is being celebrated on Wednesday amid festivity and different programmes in the capital and elsewhere in the country.

Like elsewhere in the world, the Buddhist community in Bangladesh, has chalked out different programmes including colorful processions, puja, sanghadan, discussions and cultural functions to mark the day in a befitting manner.

Lord Buddha was born on this day of full moon in 563 BC, attained enlightenment and passed away on the same day.

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in separate messages on the occasion, greeted members of the Buddhist community as well as the countrymen.

Besides, leaders of different political and socio-cultural organizations also greeted the people of the Buddhist community on the occasion of Buddha Purnima.

The day is a public holiday. On the occasion, newspapers will publish different articles while Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television (BTV) and private TV channels will broadcast special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.

The celebrations will start with lighting of lamps and hoisting of the national and religious flags atop the Mohabihar and chanting of sacred verses from Tripitaka.

As part of the day’s programme, people of the Buddhist community will bring out a colourful procession from Sabujbagh Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery and end on Mugda Stadium premises parading the main thoroughfares in the capital tomorrow.

Bangladesh Buddhist Federation (BBF) will organise a day-long programmes including a discussion meeting at Sabujbagh Dharmarajika Buddha Maha Bihar here.

Besides, another discussion will be held at Sabujbagh Buddhist temple in the afternoon.

In Khagrachari, members of the Buddhist community will celebrate their most sacred and largest festival Buddha Purnima in the town and elsewhere in the district with traditional enthusiasm and sublime devotion. They will also bring out a colorful procession from Mahajan Para area.

The Buddhist devotees will also offer various gift items including fruits, flowers and candles to statues of Lord Buddha throughout the day.

Source: BSS