ZCZC
BSS-29
PURNIMA -BUDDHIST
Buddhists to celebrate Maghi Purnima tomorrow in Ctg
CHATTOGRAM Feb 18, 2019 (BSS) -Buddhists here will celebrate one of their major festivals Maghi Punrima in the city and elsewhere in the district with traditional enthusiasm and solemn devotion tomorrow.
The Buddhists celebrate Maghi Purnima on the day of the full moon in the month of Magh, commemorating the day on which Gautama Buddha announced three months earlier his impending death Mohaparinirvana (passing away) on the most sacred Buddha Purnima.
Buddha’s proclamation of his death made his countless disciples sad. He told them, ‘Death is inevitable, so it is not proper to grieve over it. You should practice religion with conviction; only then you will conquer sorrow by crossing over this world of birth, infirmity, disease and death’.
In other words, the significance of this day is to develop inner strength and acquire power to overcome all sorrows.
The Purnima will be celebrated in all monasteries, respective offices of the religious organizations and educational institutions through daylong programmes.
The day’s programmes will begin with hoisting of the national and religious flags atop all monasteries at dawn and chanting of the sacred verses from the Tripitaka.
Breaking of fasting, Mass prayer, blood donation, sangadana, discussions, panchashila, pradip puja are other highlights of the programme.
In the city, the main religious congregations will be held at Nandankanan Buddhist temple, Agrabad Shakyamuni Moha Swashan Vihar , Katalganj Nabapandit Vihar, Purnachar International Buddhists Monasteries at Devpahar and Sarbajanina Bouddha Vihar at Momin road.
Traditional fairs will also be organised at Buddhist populated regions of Chittagong including Tagorepuni mela (Patiya), Parinirvana mela of Binajuri village (Raozan), Buddha mela of Lathichari village (Raozan), Shakyamuni mela of Abdullahpur village (Hathazari) and Aryamitra Mahaparinirvana mela (Raozan).
To mark the occasion, a good number of Buddhist periodicals of the community like Amitabh, Sombodhi and Arya will be brought out.
Besides, special prayers seeking continued peace and progress of the nation as well as global peace will also be offered in all monasteries.
BSS/MAM/SKB/BZC/1920HRS