Buddhists celebrate Madhu Purnima in Bandarban, Rangamati

Buddhists across the country, including Bandarban and Rangamati districts, celebrated Madhu Purnima amid religious solemnity and fervour on Saturday. 

The festival commemorates an episode during the Buddha’s rains retreat in the Parileyya forest, when a monkey offered him honey. 

The festival is celebrated annually on the full moon of the Bengali month of Bhadro, symbolising devotion, generosity, and harmony.

BANDARBAN: The celebrations began in the morning with devotees receiving the Five Precepts and offering honey, honey-mixed rice pudding, fruits and food to the Buddha. Monks led prayers, sermons and teachings on the significance of the festival.

Devotees were scheduled to gather at monasteries in the afternoon for religious sermons, followed by lighting lamps and prayers for the well-being of their families, elders, teachers, country and people. Some monasteries arranged the lighting of thousands of lamps.

RANGAMATI: The day’s celebrations included offerings of honey, Buddha images and the Eight Requisites, Buddha worship, offerings to monks, prayers and the taking of the Five Precepts at Raj Ban Bihar. Sreemat Pragyalankar Mahasthabir, head of the resident monastic community, delivered a religious sermon.

Madhu Purnima, also known as Bhadro Purnima, marks the second full moon of the Buddhist monks’ three-month rainy-season retreat. 

Buddhists commemorate a traditional account of a monkey offering honey and a wild elephant offering fruit to the meditating Buddha, and observe the day with prayers and acts of charity for the well-being of all.