Buddhists celebrate Madhu Purnima today

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BSS, Chittagong :
Buddhists here will celebrate one of the significant festivals Madhu Punrima in the city and elsewhere in the district today with traditional enthusiasm and solemn devotion.
Madhu Purnima, one of the scared festivals is celebrated on the day of the full moon in Bhadra, in commemoration of the service and support rendered by the animals of the Parilyeyo forest, India to Gautam Buddha. Madhu Purnima announces the greatness of charity. While Buddha was observing his 10th barsabas (seclusion inside the hermitage) or monsoon rites in the Parilyeyo forest, an elephant and a monkey collected alms and gathered fruits for him. They also protected him from ferocious animals.
One day, the monkey brought a beehive, which Buddha accepted. In his joy at the Buddha’s acceptance of his gift, the monkey started jumping from tree to tree and suffered a fatal fall. It was the day of the full moon in Bhadra. The day was named Madhu Purnima or ‘honey full-moon’ to commemorate the gift of the monkey.
Apart from celebrating the greatness of charity, the day is significant for its role in establishing unity among Buddhists. The purnima will be celebrated in all monasteries, respective offices of the religious organizations and educational institutions through day long programmes. The day’s programmes will herald with hoisting of the national and religious flags atop all monasteries in the dawn and chanting of the sacred verses from the Tripitaka. Offering of honey , mass prayer, blood donation, sangadana, discussions, meditation course, panchashila, pradip puja are other highlights of the programmes. In the city, the main religious congregations will be held at Nandankanan Buddhist temple, Katalganj Nabapandit Vihar, Purnachar International Buddhists Monastery at Devpahar, Agrabad Mohashahan Moitri Vihar, Sarbajanina Bouddha Vihar at Momin road .
In Nandankanon Buddhist temple , the chief priest Dr Ganasree Mohathero will lead the mass congregation.
To mark the day, local dailies will bring out some articles while
Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television, Chittagong centres would also air special programmes highlighting importance of the festival. Besides, special prayers seeking continued peace and progress of the nation as well as global peace will be offered in all monasteries.
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