Chittagong:Probarona Purnima, the second-largest festival for Buddhists, is being celebrated in Chittagong and its nearby upazillas with traditional enthusiasm and solemnity.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, this festival, also known as Ashini Purnima, signifies the end of a three-month period where monks remain sequestered in their monasteries for self-edification and atonement. The festival is marked by a month-long series of sermons by Buddhist monks aimed at promoting the welfare of all beings.
The festivities commence with the offering of yellow robes in a ceremonial event. A legend associated with the festival recounts how Buddha once clipped hair from his head, which rose instead of falling, symbolizing the attainment of supreme wisdom. In memory of this event, Buddhists release colored paper balloons into the sky during the evening.
Celebrations take place in monasteries, religious organizations, and educational institutions with day-long programs. The day's events began with the hoisting of national and religious flags at dawn, followed by the chanting of sacred verses from the Tripitaka. Highlights of the day included mass prayer, blood donation, sangadana, discussions, panchashila, and pradip puja.
In the port city, significant religious gatherings were held at locations such as the Nandankanan Buddhist temple, Katalganj Nabapandit Vihar, Purnachar International Buddhists Monastery at Devpahar, Mugholtuli Shakkyamuni Swashan Vihar at Agrabad, Sarbajanina Bouddha Vihar at Momin road, and Biswamoitry Buddha Vihar at Agrabad. Local newspapers published special articles to mark the occasion, while Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television aired programs to highlight the festival's significance.