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Published : 06 Oct 2025, 10:31 PM
On the night of Prabarana Purnima, Ramu’s sky became a canvas for hope.
At this year’s festival in Cox’s Bazar, a call for peace soared across the night sky: “Let Palestine Be Free”.
The Buddhist festival, celebrating peace and humanity, touched the hearts of all attendees as illuminated paper lanterns carried this message of solidarity.
The vibrant festival came a decade after Ramu’s Buddhist temples were set ablaze during communal violence, shattering not just the walls of the temples but the belief in peaceful coexistence.
On Monday evening, thousands joined in to release vibrant lanterns into the sky in a powerful transformation as compassion and unity rose from the ashes of its troubled past.
Ramu Seema Bihar’s head monk Pragyananda Bhikkhu said Prabarana Purnima, marking the end of the three-month monastic retreat, is a day of self-reflection and renewal for Buddhist monks. This day is celebrated as a festival of self-restraint and purification in Buddhism.
The release of lanterns during the festival signifies the removal of darkness, symbolising peace and the hope for a brighter, better world.
Local journalist Sunil Barua remarked, “Prabarana represents peace, compassion, and the triumph of humanity. We wish for the end of all wars, oppression, and injustice.”
Youth activist Inzamam ul Haq echoed similar sentiments, calling the lanterns a symbol of protest as well as joy.
“We stand with the people of Palestine,” he said, “May this light be a beacon of hope for those in darkness.”
The festival also saw enhanced security measures, with joint patrols by police, the RAB, and Ansar forces ensuring peace and safety across the area.
