ZCZC
BSS-44
ASHARI-PURNIMA
Ctg Buddhists celebrate Ashari Purnima
CHATTOGRAM , July 16 , 2019 (BSS) – Buddhists in the city and district here today celebrated one of their major religious festivals Ashari Purnima with solemn devotion and traditional enthusiasm.
Ashari Purnima is celebrated by the members of the Buddhist community to commemorate three significant incidences of Buddha’s life which took place on this single day.
On this day, restless and dissatisfied with his opulent prince Siddhartha, renounced his kingdom, even his wife and son when he was just 29 years old in quest of eternal truth.
The festival is mostly important that Siddharta Goutom after attaining supreme enlightenment in six years rigorous meditation in Budhgoya of Bihar as Buddha preached his first sermon among his five disciples at Banaras of Sarnath in India .
The purnima is thirdly important as the Buddhist monks will go for three months long seclusion inside their monasteries for atonement of their defilement from the following day if any till another festival Prabarana Purnima.
Commemorating those events, the Buddhists all over the world have been observing the festival on the same day for ages.
The festival was celebrated in all monasteries through daylong programmes.
The day’s programme heralded with hoisting of the national and religious flags atop all monasteries and chanting of the sacred verses from the Tripitaka,
Breaking of fasting of the monks, discussion meetings, recitation of the religious discourses from the Holy Scriptures by the devotees, blood donation and meditation are other highlights of the festival. In the city, the main congregations were held at
Nandankan Buddhist Temple, Katalganj Nabapandit Vihar, Purnachar International Buddhist Monastery, Mughaltoli Shakkymuni Mohasasan complex and Momin road Sarbajonin Bouddha Vihar . Defying inclement weather hundreds of Buddhist irrespective of age and gender assembled in Nandankanon Buddhist temple.
Venerable Dr Gnyansree Mohathero also its high priest conducted the mass prayer while Venerable Tilokabangsha Thero Director of the Mughaltoli Shakkymuni Mohasasan complex led the prayer cum meditation course .
Special prayers seeking particularly anti militancy and drug, peace and progress of the nation as well as global mankind were offered in all monasteries.
To mark the day, a number of Buddhist periodicals were brought out while local dailies also published special articles highlighting significance of the day.
Bangladesh Television Chattogram centre and Bangladesh Betar Chattogram are airing discussion and talk show on the day.
BSS/MAM/SKB/BZC/1945HRS