Buddha Purnima celebrated in Bangladesh

Tahsin Ahmed

Buddha Purnima, the most largest religious festival of the Buddhists, celebrated today across Bangladesh. The United Nations had designated Buddha Purnima as the International Vesak Day in 2000. It commemorates three key events which took place in the life of Buddha on the same day -"the birth of Siddharta Gautama, his attainment of supreme enlightenment and his entry into Nirvana-the sublime cessation of all longing". This earth-shattering day is exceptionally significant to Buddhists around the world. As part of the day’s programme, Bangladesh Bouddha Kristi Prachar Sangha brought out a colourful ‘peace procession’ with the participation of a large number of devotees from Sabujbagh Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery, which paraded different city roads and thoroughfares in the morning. The Bangladesh Buddhist Federation organized a daylong programme, including a discussion, at the International Buddhist Monastery at Merul Badda in the capital. Besides, Buddha Purnima was also celebrated in Buddhist-populated regions of Chattogram, Rangamati, Bandarban, Khagrachhari, Cox’s Bazar and Sylhet.