Chittagong Bureau :
Members of the Buddhist community celebrated Buddha Purnima in the city as elsewhere in the district on Wednesday with solemn devotion and enthusiasm.
On this day followers of Buddhism commemorates three important events;- Lord Buddha’s birth, enlightenment or ‘Nirvana’ in Bodh Gaya and ‘Parinirvana’ in Kushinagara of India . Buddha Purnima is observed on a bright full moon in the Vaisakha month, a time especially suited for introspection, charity and puja. Gautam Buddha “lived and died in about the fifth century before the Christian era”. Buddha means “enlightened one”. Besides, decorating the monasteries with colorful Buddhist flags, the morning prayer, colorful procession of the Monks, worship with large offerings, blood donation, religious discussions are the highlights of the day. Prayers, sermons and non-stop recitations of Buddhist scriptures resonated in all monasteries, religious halls and homes. The Buddhists also bathed and wore only white clothes. People offered incense, flowers, candles and fruits to the statue of Lord Buddha. They spent their entire day listening to discourses on the life and teachings of the Buddha.
The day’s programmes heralded with hoisting of the national and religious flags atop of all monasteries in the dawn and chanting of the sacred verses from the Tripitaka.
In the city, the colourful peace procession under the auspices of Bangladesh Buddhists Association was brought out city’s Nandankanan Buddhist temple.
Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong Mohammad Shamsul Arefin inaugurated the procession by releasing balloons and pigeons. Association President Ajit Ranjan Baraua, senior vice president Adarsha Barua, Secretary General Sudip Barua, Buddhist Association (youth) president advocate Joyshanta Barua, general secretary Swapan Barua, Tinku Barua among others were present.
In the city, main religious congregations were held at Nandankanon
Buddhist templeKatalganj Nabapandit Vihar, Purnachar International Buddhists Monastery at Devpahar, Mughaltooli Shakkyamuni Vihar at Agrabad and Sarbajanina Bouddha Vihar at Momin Road.
The mass congregation in Nandankanan Buddhist temple was conducted by its chief abbot venerable Dr Gynansree Mahathero.
To mark the day, local dailies brought out articles while Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television, Chittagong centers aired special programmes highlighting the importance of the festival.
To mark the occasion, a good number of periodicals of the community like Amitabh, Sombodhi, Krishti, Bodhibarta and Arya were brought out special supplements. Besides, special prayers seeking continued peace and progress of the nation as well as global peace were also offered in all monasteries.
Members of the Buddhist community celebrated Buddha Purnima in the city as elsewhere in the district on Wednesday with solemn devotion and enthusiasm.
On this day followers of Buddhism commemorates three important events;- Lord Buddha’s birth, enlightenment or ‘Nirvana’ in Bodh Gaya and ‘Parinirvana’ in Kushinagara of India . Buddha Purnima is observed on a bright full moon in the Vaisakha month, a time especially suited for introspection, charity and puja. Gautam Buddha “lived and died in about the fifth century before the Christian era”. Buddha means “enlightened one”. Besides, decorating the monasteries with colorful Buddhist flags, the morning prayer, colorful procession of the Monks, worship with large offerings, blood donation, religious discussions are the highlights of the day. Prayers, sermons and non-stop recitations of Buddhist scriptures resonated in all monasteries, religious halls and homes. The Buddhists also bathed and wore only white clothes. People offered incense, flowers, candles and fruits to the statue of Lord Buddha. They spent their entire day listening to discourses on the life and teachings of the Buddha.
The day’s programmes heralded with hoisting of the national and religious flags atop of all monasteries in the dawn and chanting of the sacred verses from the Tripitaka.
In the city, the colourful peace procession under the auspices of Bangladesh Buddhists Association was brought out city’s Nandankanan Buddhist temple.
Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong Mohammad Shamsul Arefin inaugurated the procession by releasing balloons and pigeons. Association President Ajit Ranjan Baraua, senior vice president Adarsha Barua, Secretary General Sudip Barua, Buddhist Association (youth) president advocate Joyshanta Barua, general secretary Swapan Barua, Tinku Barua among others were present.
In the city, main religious congregations were held at Nandankanon
Buddhist templeKatalganj Nabapandit Vihar, Purnachar International Buddhists Monastery at Devpahar, Mughaltooli Shakkyamuni Vihar at Agrabad and Sarbajanina Bouddha Vihar at Momin Road.
The mass congregation in Nandankanan Buddhist temple was conducted by its chief abbot venerable Dr Gynansree Mahathero.
To mark the day, local dailies brought out articles while Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television, Chittagong centers aired special programmes highlighting the importance of the festival.
To mark the occasion, a good number of periodicals of the community like Amitabh, Sombodhi, Krishti, Bodhibarta and Arya were brought out special supplements. Besides, special prayers seeking continued peace and progress of the nation as well as global peace were also offered in all monasteries.
