Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali district was aglow with festivity as the Rakhine villages celebrated Prabarana Purnima, a significant event in the Buddhist calendar.
The festivities began on Sunday night and culminated on Monday, marking a joyous occasion for the local communities.
Prabarana Purnima holds great importance for Buddhists, as it commemorates the day when Gautama Buddha began his teachings. Uttam Bhikkhu, a monk from the Misripara Seema Buddha Vihar and a researcher at the Gautam Buddha Library, highlighted the festival's purpose, emphasizing self-purification, the rejection of evil, and the embrace of truth and beauty.
The celebrations at the Buddhist Viharas began with the offering of Panchasila and Ashtasila prayers, followed by religious discussions, the ringing of bells, and the distribution of various cakes. The festive spirit spread throughout the 24 Rakhine villages in the upazila, with temples adorned with dazzling lights and enhanced security measures to ensure a peaceful celebration.
In Srimangal Buddhist Vihara, a popular tourist destination in Kuakata, devotees lit 1,000 candles in honor of Gautama Buddha. The morning commenced with Panchasila and Ashtasila prayers, bell ringing, religious discussions, and offerings of various fruits and pithapuli to the monks. As the day progressed, the Prabarana Purnima festival reached its pinnacle as colorful lanterns were released in the vicinity of the Vihar. Rakhine young men and women danced to music, attracting tourists and locals who flocked to witness the vibrant festivities.
The monsoon fast of Buddhist monks, dedicated to Gautama Buddha, commenced on Asadhi Purnima and concluded on Prabarana Purnima. Traditional Pitha, Puli, and Payesh dishes were prepared in homes throughout the region, with Rakhine people adorning clean or new clothes as they visited the Bihar to engage in various religious rituals.
The Fanush (sky lantern) festival, which was originally a local celebration, has evolved into a universal event.
Tennen, a Rakhine youth from Goka Amkhola neighborhood, described Prabarana Purnima as the most significant religious festival for Buddhists. The festive spirit prevails in every Rakhine village, with colorful paper lanterns and decorative designs taking to the night sky during the Prabarana Utsav. Tennen also mentioned that preparations for the lanterns begin nearly a month in advance, attracting visitors from far and wide to witness this mesmerizing spectacle.
