Buddha Purnima, the biggest religious festival of the Buddhist community, was celebrated on Saturday (May 18) across the country with due religious fervor and festivity.
Like elsewhere in the world, the Buddhist community in Bangladesh, chalked out different programmes, including colorful processions, puja, sanghadan, discussions and cultural functions, to mark the day.
Lord Buddha was born on this day of full moon in 563 BC, attained enlightenment and passed away on the same day.
Marking the day, Buddhist devotees offered various gift items, including fruits, flowers and candles, to statues of Lord Buddha throughout the day.
President Md. Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday issued separate messages greeting the members of the Buddhist community as well as the countrymen.
Leaders of different political and socio-cultural organisations also greeted members of Buddhist community on the occasion of Buddha Purnima, reports said.
As part of the day’s programme, Bangladesh Bauddha Kristi Prachar Sangha brought out a colorful “peace procession” with participation of a large number of devotees from Sabujbagh Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery that paraded different city thoroughfares in the morning.
Bangladesh Buddhist Federation organized a daylong programme including a discussion meeting at International Buddhist Monetary at Merul Badda in Dhaka.
Buddha Purnima was also celebrated in Chattogram, Rangamati, Bandarban, Khagrachhari, Cox’s Bazar and Sylhet and other districts.
The day was a public holiday.
On the occasion, newspapers published different articles while Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television and private TV channels broadcast special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.
