The Buddhist community is set to celebrate Prabarana Purnima, one of its major religious festivals, across Cox’s Bazar today, with Buddhist monasteries throughout the district preparing.
The day is being marked by religious rituals, prayers and the traditional release of sky lanterns in the evening.
According to Buddhist beliefs, on this full-moon day, Gautama Buddha descended from the Tavatimsa heaven to Sankassa. The occasion also marks the end of the Buddhist monks’ three-month rain retreat. The month-long Kathina robe-offering festival begins the following day.
Buddhist monasteries across Cox’s Bazar have arranged Buddha worship, precept observance, offerings to the monastic community, and other religious rituals.
Devotees will also release sky lanterns and illuminate monasteries in the evening.
U-Kosalla Buddhist Monastery in Barua Para, West Pahartali, under Cox’s Bazar municipality, has organised special programmes under the slogan,
“Hundreds of sky lanterns rise on Prabarana; may sins, suffering, hatred and hostility disappear.”
Monastery authorities said the programs would include religious rituals, prayers, and the release of sky lanterns, aiming to promote world peace, human welfare, harmony, and goodwill.
Similar programmes have been arranged at Buddhist monasteries across the district, as the community prepares to observe the festival with religious devotion and celebration.
By Tarekur Rahman
Photo: Tarekur Rahman
