The Buddhists are celebrating their second largest religious festival, Prabarana Purnima, in the city as elsewhere across the country on Sunday with due solemnity and traditional enthusiasm.
Special prayers were held in all monasteries seeking peace and prosperity for the nation and global peace.
Members of law enforcement agencies were deployed in and around all temples in the city and districts for a smooth celebration of the festival.
To mark this event, the Buddhists release air lanterns and set them free to flow towards the autumnal sky in the evening, which is the chief attraction of the festival.
The festival, also known as Ashwini Purnima, marks the conclusion of the three-month-long seclusion of the monks inside monasteries for self-edification and atonement of their defilement.
The Purnima follows month-long preaching of sermons by the Buddhist monks for the welfare of every being and the whole of humankind through a month-long yellow robe offering ceremony that begins on the day after the Purnima.
According to the legend, Buddha once clipped some hair strands from his head. He said that if he was qualified to attain supreme wisdom and enlightenment, the hairs would not fall but go up in the long run, which they did.
Marking the festival and on the occasion of the month-long Kathin Chibar Dan (Yellow Robe Offering Ceremony), President M Abdul Hamid on Saturday greeted the Buddhists.
President Hamid, in a message, conveyed greetings to the members of the Buddhist community and said Gautam Buddha, throughout his life, preached the eternal message of equality, friendship, compassion, peace and humanity in building a peaceful world.
“Buddha's non-violent words and love of life are still widely admired around the world. His ideal of sacrifice is full of humanity,” the head of the state added.
The essence of Buddhism can play an important role in establishing world peace, Abdul Hamid said.
Terming “Chibar” an outfit worn by Buddhist monks, he said that the “Kathin Chibar Dan” is called the best donation (Dan-Sreshtho). With the participation of Buddhists, this festival builds unity, solidarity and harmony among all, he said.
From thousands of years, Buddhist tradition is blended with the soil and people of Bangladesh. The president described Bangladesh as a country of communal harmony and urged the people of all communities to play their respective roles in expediting the pace of national development and progress.
Buddhist Religious Welfare Trust Vice Chairman Supta Bhushan Barua told BSS that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina donated Tk2,00,00,000 as a special grant on the occasion.
Besides, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief distributed 500kgs of rice to each government-enlisted monasteries.
The Purnima is being celebrated in all monasteries, respective offices of religious organizations and educational institutions through daylong programs.
The day began with raising the national and religious flags atop all monasteries at dawn and chanting the sacred verses from the sacred Tripitaka.
Breaking of fasting of the monks, mass prayers, blood donation, Sangadana, discussions, panchashila, asthashila and pradip puja are being held.
In the capital, the main religious congregations were held at Dharmarajik Bouddha Bihar, Kamalapur, International Buddhist Monastery at Merul Badda, Kalachandpur Bouddha Bihar, Uttara Bouddha Bihar, Adibashi Bouddha Temple at Mirpur and Ashulia Bodhigyan Maithree Bhabona Kendra.
In Chittagong, the religious congregations were held at different temples, including Nandankanan Buddhist Temple, Katalganj Nabapandit Bihar, Shakkymuni Mohasashan Bouddha Bihar at Agrabad, Purnachar International Buddhists Monastery at Debpahar and Sarbajanin Bouddha Bihar at Momin Road.
