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Published : 06 Oct 2025, 02:06 PM
Buddhists across the country are celebrating their biggest festival “Kathin Chivar Dan”, which kicks off with “Prabarana Purnima” on Monday.
The Hindu community is celebrating the Lakshmi Puja on the same day.
Two and a half thousand years ago, Gautam Buddha attained his “Buddhatva” or enlightenment, which is the foundation for Buddhism. Buddhists observe Prabarana Purnima, or the Ashwin Purnima, three months from Ashari Purnima, on the day of the full moon in the month of Ashwin.
Buddhist religious leaders mark the occasion at the end of the monsoon rites of Barsabas. The Prabarana Purnima comes after three months of Borshabroto of the Buddhist monks.
According to Buddhist belief, Prabarana is a festival during which one avoids sin in all steps of life and remains steadfast in good deeds. It requires dedicating oneself to a life of humility and avoiding all acts contrary to Buddhist ideals. A day after the Prabarana Purnima comes the month-long Kathin Chivar Dan, during which ordained men are given robes at monasteries across the country.
The lunar timing of Prabarana Purnima starts at 11:54 pm on Monday and will end at 9:03 am on Tuesday.
Kathir Chivan Dan is the biggest religious festival for Buddhists. Each monastery is to hold a two-day event to mark the occasion.
For Prabarana Purnima, the Bangladesh Buddhist Federation has organised a lively day-long programme at the International Buddhist Monastery in Merul Badda, it said in a message.
The first part of the celebration will kick off at 5:30am with a morning prayer. This will be followed by the hoisting of the national and religious flags, a breakfast for the monks, Buddha worship, and other rituals like Shil Grahan, Maha Sangha dan, and Pinda Dan.
After a lunch break, the second part will begin. This will include reciting the Buddhist religious scripture Tripitaka and a discussion titled “Prabarana’s Importance and Global Humanity”.
In the evening, the event will end with the lighting and release of colourful candle-lit hot air balloons. Religious Advisor AFM Khalid Hossain is likely to attend the event.
Additionally, a similar programme has been announced at the Dharmarajik Buddhist Monastery in Basabo, the authorities said in a message. Cultural Affairs Advisor Mostafa Sarwar Farooki is expected to join the event.
Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus issued a message marking the Prabarana Purnima. A delegation of Buddhist religious leaders also met the chief advisor on Wednesday and exchanged greetings.
Meanwhile, the Hindu community is celebrating Lakshmi Puja, one of their major religious festivals, on Monday. This puja is performed in Hindu households.
Lakshmi Puja is celebrated in the Purnima after the Durga Puja festival ends. Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped as the goddess of wealth and prosperity.
Besides performing the puja with flat terracotta dishes and idols, devotees draw Alpana, or colourful designs and replicas of Goddess Lakshmi’s feet, during the puja.
According to Hindu scriptures, Lakshmi - goddess of wealth, fortune and beauty - is the wife of Lord Vishnu, and the source of his power. When Vishnu appeared on the Earth in the form of a ram and Krishna, his wife Lakshmi accompanied him as Sita and Radha.
As per the lunar calendar, Purnima Tithi will start at 11:54am on Monday and end at 10:01am on Tuesday.
