Celebrations marking Prabarana Purnima, the second-largest Buddhist religious festival, have begun with enthusiasm at Buddhist monasteries across Cox’s Bazar.
On Sunday, October 25, devotees performed Buddha Puja and Shibli Puja, observed the five and eight precepts, attended religious sermons, meditated and prayed. Thousands of lamps were lit and lanterns released into the sky.
Monday marks the second day of the festival, when hundreds of colourful lanterns are scheduled to be released. The celebrations will conclude with the floating of the Kalpajahaaj, or symbolic celestial ships, in Ramu on October 26 and at Cox’s Bazar sea beach on October 27.
At the central Mahasangdogri Buddhist Monastery, members of the Rakhine community arrived in the afternoon in new clothes and carrying food offerings. They prayed for happiness, peace and prosperity.
This year, around 50 elaborately decorated pandals have been set up at Aggamedha Buddhist Monastery, Pitakhet, Mohajer Para Buddhist Monastery, Jadiran Monastery, and by Rakhine social and religious organisations. Buddha images are the main attraction at the pandals, which have been decorated with colourful lights. Buddhist neighbourhoods across the town have taken on a festive appearance.
Various programmes are also being held in Mohajer Para, Bazarghata, Baidyaghona and Jadiram, as well as in Moheshkhali, Ukhiya, Chakaria, Ramu, Pekua, Teknaf and Naikhongchhari.
The historic Aggamedha Kyang and Mahasingdrogri monasteries in Cox’s Bazar town have drawn devotees and tourists since the afternoon. Religious rituals, prayers and celebrations continued on the monastery grounds. A large lantern was also released, illuminating the surrounding area and prompting cheers from those gathered.
Usen Thoien, also known as Usenmi Babu, president of the Cox’s Bazar Rakhine Ekota Sangha, said the central message of Prabarana was self-purification and embracing goodness, truth and beauty while rejecting falsehood and ugliness.
“I hope all impurities are removed from people’s hearts, and that non-violence, equality, friendship, love and compassion flourish,” he said.
Mong A Khen, former director of the Cox’s Bazar Cultural Center, said people from different religious communities were visiting Buddhist monasteries, strengthening bonds of communal harmony.
Prabarana Purnima marks the end of the three-month Buddhist rains retreat, which runs from Ashar to Ashwin in the Bengali calendar. The month-long Kathina robe-offering festival begins afterwards, he said.
According to Buddhist tradition, when Siddhartha Gautama renounced worldly life on his path to enlightenment, he cut off a lock of his hair and cast it upward while standing beside the Anoma River. The hair is believed to have remained enshrined in the Chulamani Pagoda in the Tavatimsa Heaven. Lanterns are released and lamps lit as offerings associated with this tradition.
Buddhist tradition also holds that the Buddha returned to the human world from Tavatimsa Heaven after spending the three-month rains retreat there, with his descent commemorated around the full moon of Kartik.
By Abdu Rashid Manik
Photo: Abdu Rashid Manik
