Khagrachari, May 11 (V7N) - The Buddhist community in Khagrachari celebrated Buddha Purnima—one of their most sacred religious festivals—with great enthusiasm and in a festive atmosphere on Sunday, pledging to uphold brotherhood, harmony, and peace by rejecting hatred, violence, and division.

Video: Buddha Purnima Observed Peacefully Across Khagrachari

Various religious and cultural programs were organized across the district, with the presence of notable guests including Khagrachari Hill District Council Chairperson Jiruna Tripura.

Monasteries throughout the region observed religious rituals such as Buddha Puja, offering of Buddha statues, Sangha Dana (donations to the monastic community), Ashta Parisuddha Dana (eight types of pure offerings), Pindadana (alms-giving to monks), and other acts of merit. The evening will be marked by the lighting of thousands of lamps and the release of traditional sky lanterns.

A colorful Mangal Shobhayatra (peace procession) is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, beginning at the premises of the Khagrachari Yongd Buddhist Monastery. The procession will circle the main roads of the town before returning to the monastery.

In addition, more than a hundred Buddhist monasteries across all nine upazilas of Khagrachari are observing the day with programs including the recitation of Panchashila (five precepts), Maha Sangha Dana, the lighting of a thousand lamps, religious discourses, Pindadana, and mass prayers for global peace.

According to Buddhist tradition, Buddha Purnima commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and Mahaparinirvana of Lord Gautama Buddha—believed to have occurred on the same full moon day nearly 2,500 years ago. He was born in Lumbini, in present-day Nepal, attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, and passed away in Kushinagar.

The observance of this auspicious day is not only a religious event but also a reminder of the Buddha's timeless messages of peace, compassion, and non-violence—values that resonate beyond religious boundaries and remain relevant in today’s world.

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