ZCZC
BSS-34
PURNIMA-CTG
Modhu purnima tomorrow
CHATTOGRAM, Sept 23, 2018 (BSS)- The Buddhists in Chattogram will celebrate
one of their major festivals Modhu Purnima in the city as elsewhere in the
district tomorrow with solemn devotion and traditional enthusiasm.
The Buddhists in Bangladesh, especially in the region of Chattogram
celebrate Madhu Purnima on the day of the full moon in the month of
September.
The day commemorates an occasion on which the Buddha retreated to the
wilderness of Parileya forest in India to bring peace between two quarrelling
factions of his disciples.
According to legend, a monkey and an elephant named Parileyyaka fed him
during this time, the elephant bringing fruit and the monkey bringing a
honeycomb.
The monkey was so excited when the Buddha accepted his gift. In his joy,
the monkey started jumping from tree to tree and suffered a fatal fall.
It was the day of the full moon in September. The day was named Madhu
Purnima or ‘honey full-moon’ to commemorate the gift of the monkey.
However, the monkey was immediately reborn in Tavatimsa as a result of his
generosity.
The festival will be celebrated in all monasteries, respective offices of
the religious organisations and educational institutions through daylong
programmes.
The day’s programmes will herald with hoisting of the national and
religious flags atop all monasteries, chanting of the sacred verses from the
Tripitaka.
Breaking of fasting by the monks, discussion meetings, offering of honey,
blood donation and illumination in the evening in all monasteries are other
highlights of the programmes.
In the city, the main religious congregations will be held at Nandankanon
Buddhist Temple, Katalganj Navapandit Vihar, Purnachar International Buddhist
Monastery at Devpahar, Mughaltuli Saikkymuni Shoshan Vihar, Agrabad and
Chandgaon Biswamoitri Vihar.
To mark the day, local dailies will publish some articles while Bangladesh
Betar and Bangladesh Television, Chattogram centres will air special
programmes highlighting importance of the festival.
Besides, special prayers seeking continued peace and progress of the nation
as well as global peace will also be offered in all monasteries.
BSS/SKB/SSS/2002 hrs