Buddha Purnima, the most sacred and largest religious festival of the Buddhists, will be celebrated across the country today with traditional enthusiasm and due religious fervour.
The Buddha Purnima, designated as International Vesak Day in 2000 by the United Nations, commemorates three important events that took place in the life of Buddha on the same day — the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, his attainment of supreme enlightenment and his entry into Nirvana, the sublime cessation of all longing.
On the occasion of Buddha Purnima, president Mohammed Shahabuddin and prime minister Tarique Rahman in separate messages greeted the Buddhists as well as the countrymen.
Extending greetings and felicitations to the Buddhist community both home and abroad, president Mohammed Shahabuddin noted that the five precepts of Gautama Buddha provided important guidelines for the spiritual, family and social development of individuals.
Referring to the current global context, he said that Buddha’s philosophy could play a vital role in preventing wars and conflicts rooted in religion, caste and ethnicity and in promoting global peace.
Prime minister Tarique Rahman also exchanged greetings with leaders of the Buddhist community at the Cabinet Division at secretariat in Dhaka on Thursday said that the government was committed to ensuring an environment where every citizen of the country could live in peace and security regardless of party, opinion, religion or caste.
‘The main responsibility and commitment of our government is to build a state and society where every citizen of the country can freely practice and enjoy their religious rituals and rights,’ he said.
Stating that religion belongs to individuals but the right to security belongs to all, he said that the government did not want to do politics using religion.
Tarique Rahman, also ruling BNP chairman, said, ‘We do not want to use religion for political interests, nor have we done so in the past. Regardless of religion or caste, Bengali and non- Bengali alike will enjoy equal rights in all spheres— this is the policy of the current government.’
The freedom fighters achieved the independence of Bangladesh with the aspiration of building a safe country for everyone, believer and non-believer, regardless of religion or caste, he said.
‘We, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians, all together liberated this country at the cost of millions of lives. Therefore, this independent Bangladesh belongs to you, to me, to all of us,’ the premier added.
Noting that ‘Bangladeshi nationalism’ is a political philosophy of the current government, he said, ‘It has been proven repeatedly in Bangladesh.’
‘Only the philosophy of Bangladeshi nationalism can ensure harmonious coexistence of all castes, religious communities and ethnic groups in the country. None of you should ever consider yourselves as a minority,’ the prime minister said.
The celebrations usually begin with the hoisting of national and religious flags atop all monasteries across the country and chanting of sacred verses from the Tripitaka at dawn.
As part of the day’s programme, Bangladesh Bauddha Krishti Prachar Sangha will bring out a colourful peace procession with the participation of a large number of devotees from Sabujbagh Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery, parading along different city roads and thoroughfares in the morning.
Bangladesh Buddhist Federation will organise a daylong programme, including a discussion, at the International Buddhist Monastery at Merul Badda.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general and LGRD and cooperatives minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will attend the discussion.
Besides, Buddha Purnima will also be celebrated in Buddhist-populated regions of Chattogram, Rangamati, Bandarban, Khagrachari, Cox’s Bazar, Cumilla, Barguna, Rangpur and Sylhet.
