Buddha Purnima 2556 BE Celeberated in Bangladesh

2012.05.28

A little Buddhist devotee lights up candles and incense stick.

Buddhist devotees lights up candles and incense stick.

Buddhist devotees prays during Buddha Purnima festival.

Buddhist devotees prays during Buddha Purnima festival.

Buddhist devotees prays during Buddha Purnima festival.

Buddha Purnima is the biggest religious festival of the Buddhist community. Buddha Purnima falls on the full moon day of the lunar month Vaishaaka, and is day that the Buddha was born, gained enlightenment and attained Nirvana when he died.
Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti is the most sacred day in the Buddhist calendar. The most important festival of the Buddhists, Buddha Purnima falls on the full moon day of the lunar month Vaishaaka (that corresponds to the month of April-May) - a special time in Buddhism as it was on this day that the Buddha was born, gained enlightenment and attained Nirvana when he died.

Buddha Jayanti or also known as Buddha Purnima is the most sacred festivals of Buddhist. Buddha Purnima (Buddha Birthday) is celebrated in remembrance Lord Buddha. Lord Buddha is the founder of Buddhism. This day is the birth anniversary of Lord Buddha. It falls on the full moon of the fourth lunar month (month of Vaisakh) i.e. April or May. This day commemorates three important events of Buddha's life

- His birth in 623 BC.
- His enlightment i.e. attainment of supreme wisdom, in 588 BC.
- His attainment of Nirvana i.e. the complete extinction of his self at the age of 80.

This day is a thrice blessed day. Lord Buddha is considered the ninth avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu (Preserver in the Hindu Holy Trinity of Creator-Preserver-Destroyer). Gautam Buddha "lived and died in about the fifth century before the Christian era". Buddha means "enlightened one" - someone who is completely free from all faults and mental obstructions.

Gautam Buddha was not a god and the philosophy of Buddhism does not entail any theistic world-view. The teachings of the Buddha are solely to liberate human beings from the misery and sufferings of life.

According to the Buddhism, sorrow and desire are the main cause of all the evil and suffering of this world. Lord Buddha advocated the Eightfold Path consisting of precepts like right conduct, right motive, right speech, right effort, right resolve, right livelihood, right attention and right meditation to gain mastery over suffering. It is only after following this path one can reach the ultimate aim of Nirvana. Nirvana is the transcendental state of complete liberation. Gautama Buddha lived and taught in northern India in the 6th Century B.C.

Buddha travelled far and wide teaching hundreds of followers. Even after death his disciples continued to spread his teachings.

Rich and poor alike were attracted by the simplicity of Buddha’s teaching and his emphasis on complete equality of all, a notion antithetical to the existing Hindu caste system. The Mauryan Emperor Ashoka espoused the Buddhist religion in the 3rd century B.C. and helped in spreading it far and wide. Sarnath and Bodhgaya are two of the most important pilgrimage centres for the Buddhists.

Buddhist Bihars(monasteries) all around the country organize various occasions and celebrate the day with traditional enthusiasm along with solemn devotion. The day’s programmes include hoisting of the national and religious flags atop all monasteries at dawn; chanting of sacred verses from the Tripitaka; prayer meets, sermons on the life of Gautam Buddha, religious discourse, continuous recitation from the Buddhist scriptures, group meditation, processions and worship of the statue of Buddha. Besides, special prayers seeking continued peace and progress of the country and world will also be offered in all monasteries. Political leaders send special greeting messages to the Buddhist communities
Buddhists celebrate the day with family, friends and relatives exchanging greetings and solidarity. After taking a bath, wearing pure clothes the disciples visit the monasteries and say their prayers. They also offer fruits, flowers, incense and candles to statues of Lord Buddha throughout the day. (These symbolic offerings represent the fact that just like these candle burn out, our lives will also end some day.) Followers of Buddha, if not already vegetarian, avoid eating meat and fish on the day of Buddha Purnima.
To mark the day, the dailies bring out special articles while the television channels air special programmes highlighting the importance of the festival.A good number of periodicals of the community like Amitabh, Sombodhi, Krishti and Arya bring out special supplements on the occasion.

Dhaka:
In Dhaka, a procession of the Bhikkus(monks) and colourful rallies are organized by Buddhist groups and communities.
At the Dharmarajika Buddhist Bihar in Bashabo(Shobujbag), day long programs are organized which include discussions, cultural programs, prayers and so on. This monastery attracts the major crowd of the day
The International Buddhist Monastery at Merul Badda also organizes cultural events, prayers and other rituals. This monastery is also the home of a branch of Sri Maha Bhodiya(which is a sampling of the original tree that the Lord Buddha attained enlightenment under) around which devotees circulate and offer holy water.
Celebrations of Buddha Purnima also take place at monasteries in Mirpur and Savar in the city.

Chittagong:
In Chittagong city, the main religious congregations are held at Nandankanan Buddhist temple, Katalganj Nabapandit Vihar, Purnachar International Buddhist Monasteries at Devpahar, Sarbajanin Bouddha Vihar at Momin road, Chandgaon Saikkymuni Vihar and Bishwamoitry Bouddha Vihar at Agrabad.
The Buddha Purnima is celebrated in Chittagong Hill Tracts and Cox’s Bazar in an elaborate manner; since many among the indigenous communities there follow Buddhism. Among all the fairs organized on account of Buddha Purnima, the largest one called “Bodhidroom Mela” takes place in the “Boiddopara” village in Chittagong.

For Hindus:
Many Hindus visit monasteries on occasion of Buddha Purnima since in their religion Lord Buddha is considered the ninth incarnation (avatar) of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu in Hindu mythology assumed to be preserver in the Hindu Holy Trinity of Creator-Preserver-Destroyer.

For other religions:
Generally,Buddha Purnima is not celebrated by non-Buddhists in Bangladesh. Most enjoy the public holiday since government office, post offices, banks and most private offices remain closed. Shops or other service-providers may close operation or have reduced opening hours. However, some enthusiasts from other religions visit the monasteries and take part in the celebration.

Bangladesh Buddhist Federation held a daylong programme at the International Buddha Bihar at Merul Badda.
Buddha Purnima 2556 BE Celeberated in Bangladesh