Buddhist community in Bangladesh celebrates Buddha Purnima

DHAKA, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh's Buddhist community Sunday celebrated "Buddha Purnima," in a befitting manner, which marks holy Gautama Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death.

As the biggest religious festival of the Buddhist community, the festival's daylong celebration started with the lighting of lamps and hoisting of national and religious flags atop the monasteries and other religious organizations.

The community also arranged other celebration programs including blood donation, "sangadana" (presentation to the monks), discussions and "panchashilla" (prayers).

Special prayers were also offered at all monasteries across the country, seeking peace, progress and prosperity of the nation.

Since Sunday morning, hundreds of Buddhists were seen to throng monasteries in Dhaka. They brought out a colorful rally in Dhaka on Sunday morning.

They also took part in various rituals and offered fruits, flowers and candles to statues of Lord Buddha who was born on a full moon day in 563 BC, attained the enlightenment and passed away on the same date.

On the occasion, Bangladesh President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted members of the Buddhist community as well as the countrymen.

The day is a public holiday.

On the occasion, Bangladesh newspapers publish different articles while state-run and private TV channels air special programs highlighting the significance of the day. Enditem