The Buddhists will celebrate their second largest religious festival Prabarana Purnima in the capital as elsewhere across the country today (Saturday) with due solemnity and traditional enthusiasm.
The festival is also known as Ashwini Purnima that marks conclusion of the three-month-long seclusion of the monks inside their monasteries for self edification and atonement of their defilement. The Purnima follows a month-long preaching of sermons by the Buddhist monks for the welfare of every beings and the whole humankind through a month-long yellow robes offering ceremony that begins on the day after the Purnima.
According to the legend, Buddha once clipped some strands of hair from his head and said that if he was qualified to attain supreme wisdom and enlightenment, the hairs would not fall down but go up instead, in the long run which they did. To mark this event, the Buddhists will release candle-lit air balloons made of coloured paper (fanush) and set free to flow towards the autumnal sky in the evening which is the chief attraction of the festival.
Buddhist Religious Welfare Trust Vice Chairman Supta Bhushan Barua told BSS that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the occasion has donated Taka two crore as special grant.
Besides, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has distributed 500 kilograms of rice government enlisted each monastery of the country.
The Purnima will be celebrated in all monasteries, respective offices of the religious organizations and educational institutions through daylong programmes. The programmes will herald with the hoisting of the national and religious flags atop all monasteries at dawn and chanting of the sacred verses from the sacred Tripitaka.
Breaking of fasting of the monks, mass prayers, blood donation, Sangadana, discussions, panchashila, asthashila and pradip puja will be highlighted the programmes.
Meanwhile, President Mohammed Shahabuddin greeted the Buddhists on the occasion of their religious festival "Prabarona Purnima" to be celebrated today (Saturday).
Shahabuddin also conveyed greetings to the members of the Buddhist community on the occasion of three- month long 'Kathin Chibar Dan' (Yellow Robe Offering Ceremony) on the day after the Purnima.
In his message, the President said Gautom Buddha, throughout his life, preached the eternal message of equality, friendship, compassion, peace and humanity in building a peaceful world.
"Buddha's ideal of sacrifice is full of humanity. His non-violent words and love of life are still widely admired around the world," he said.
He said the learning of Buddha can play an important role in addressing ongoing global instability and establishing world peace.
Shahabuddin said the Buddhist tradition has been blended with the people and
soil of this country for the last thousand years, while ancient Buddhist
bihars located in different parts of the country have been bearing the
testimony of it.
Chibar is an outfit worn by Buddhist monks, he said, adding that the 'Kathin
Chibar Dan' is called the best donation (Dan-Sreshtho).
With the participation of Buddhists, this 'Kathin Chibar Dan' festival helps
build unity, solidarity and harmony among all, he said.
The President said the 'Kathin Chibar Dan', celebrated through sacrifice,
restraint, discipline and firm meditation, plays an important role in turning
the devotees into true followers of Buddhism.
He hoped that the message of peace and harmony of Buddhist community would
spread across the world through celebration of 'Kathin Chibar Dan'.
Shahabuddin described Bangladesh as a country of communal harmony and the
harmony flowing from time immemorial is the tradition of Bangalees.
He urged the people of all communities to stand by poor and hapless people as
they have been suffering a lot due to the upward trend of inflation globally.
The President wished all programmes of Prabarona Purnima and Kathin Chibar Dan a success.
In the capital, the main religious congregations will be 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.
International Buddhist Monastery will organise a discussion marking the festival at 4pm tomorrow. State Minister for Religious Affairs Faridul Haque Khan is expected to be present on the occasion as the chief guest.
In Chittagong, the religious congregations will be 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.
Special prayers will also be offered in all monasteries seeking peace and prosperity of the nation as well as global peace.
Members of the law enforcement agencies have been deployed in and around all temples in the city and districts for smooth celebration of the festival.
