DHAKA : Buddha Purnima, the most sacred and largest religious festival of the Buddhists, will be celebrated tomorrow across the country with traditional enthusiasm and due religious fervour.
The Buddha Purnima, designated as International Vesak Day in 2000 by the United Nations, commemorates three important events that took place in the life of Buddha on the same day — the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, his attainment of supreme enlightenment, and his entry into Nirvana, the sublime cessation of all longing. This earth-shattering day is exceptionally significant to Buddhists around the world.
The day is a public holiday.
On the occasion, national and regional dailies will publish special articles, while Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television (BTV), and private TV channels will broadcast special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.
The celebrations usually begin with the hoisting of national and religious flags atop monasteries across the country and chanting of sacred verses from the Tripitaka at dawn.
Buddhist devotees are expected to offer various items, including fruits, flowers, and candles, to statues of Lord Buddha throughout the day.
Discussions, meditation, blood donation, offerings of pindadana among monks, feeding the destitute and releasing sky lanterns are among the highlights of the programmes.
As part of the day’s programme, Bangladesh Bouddha Kristi Prachar Sangha will bring out a colourful “peace procession” with the participation of a large number of devotees from Sabujbagh Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery, parading along different city roads and thoroughfares in the morning.
Bangladesh Buddhist Federation (BBF) will organise a daylong programme, including a discussion, at the International Buddhist Monastery at Merul Badda.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will attend the discussion.
Besides, Buddha Purnima will also be celebrated in Buddhist-populated regions of Chattogram, Rangamati, Bandarban, Khagrachhari, Cox’s Bazar, Cumilla, Barguna, Rangpur, and Sylhet.
