Buddhists across the nation are celebrating Buddha Purnima, the biggest religious festival of the community, on Tuesday.
Buddhist organisations have chalked out various programmes to celebrate the day which is observed as a public holiday.
The festival marks Gautam Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have greeted the countrymen and the Buddhist community.
In separate messages on the eve of the day, they wished peace and happiness for all on the occasion.
The Purnima will be celebrated in all monasteries and offices of the Buddhist religious organisations through day long programmes, reports BSS.
The programmes include hoisting of national and religious flags atop all monasteries and recitation from the sacred verses of the Tripitak and breaking of fast by the monks.
Mass prayers, blood donation, `sangadana' (presentation to the monks), discussions, `panchashilla' (prayers) and pradip puja are the other highlights of the programmes of the day.
Special prayers will also be offered at all monasteries across the country seeking peace, progress and prosperity of the nation.
