Published: 11:56 PM, 26 September 2026
Buddhists celebrate MadhuPurnima
The Buddhist community on Saturday celebrated one of their major religious festivals 'MadhuPurnima' in the capital as elsewhere in the country with solemn devotion and traditional enthusiasm.
The Buddhists in Bangladesh, especially in the region of Dhaka, Buddhist populated regions of Chattogram and three hill districts celebrated the day as Honey Full Moon Festival or Honey-offering Festival on the day of the full moon in September, BSS reports.
MadhuPurnima, one of the sacred festivals, is celebrated on the day of the full moon in the Bangla month Bhadra, in commemoration of the service and support rendered by the animals of the Parilyeyo forest, India to Buddha.
According to legend, a monkey and an elephant named Parileyyaka fed Buddha during this time, the elephant bringing fruit and the monkey bringing a honeycomb.
The monkey was so excited when the Buddha accepted his gift that he began leaping from tree to tree and finally fell to his death. However, he was immediately reborn in Tavatimsaas a result of his generosity.
The day's programmes began with hoisting of the national and religious flags atop all monasteries, chanting of the sacred verses from the sacred Tripitaka.
Breaking of fasting by the monks, discussions, offering of honey, blood donation and illumination in the evening in all monasteries were other highlights of the programmes.
In the capital, main religious congregations were held at KamalapurDharmarjikBouddha Bihar, International Buddhist Monastery at Badda, AshuliyaBidorshanBhabona Kendra in Savar, Adibashi Buddhist Temple in Mirpur and other Buddhist temples of the capital.
Besides, the main religious congregations in Chattogram were held at Nandankanon Buddhist Temple, KatalganjNavapandit Bihar, Purnachar International Buddhist Monastery at Devpahar, MughaltuliSaikkymuniShoshan Bihar, Agrabad and ChandgaonBiswamoitri Bihar.
In Rangamati, the main religious congregation was held at Raj BanaBihara while the main religious congregation in Bandarban was held in Rajguru Buddhist Temple.
Special prayers seeking continued peace and progress of the nation as well as global peace were also offered in all monasteries.
