Buddha Purnima today

Buddha Purnima, the biggest religious festival of the Buddhist community, will be celebrated across the country today.

Buddha Purnima marks the birth, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha. On this day in 563 BC, Buddha was born as Siddhartha Gautama in Kopilabostu at the foothill of the Himalayas.

He attained supreme enlightenment at the age of 35 and finally departed into "nirvana" at the age of 80 in 483 BC.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages greeting the Buddhist community on the occasion.

President Hamid called upon the Buddhists to celebrate their holy religious festival at their respective homes due to Covid-19 outbreak in the country.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Buddha Purnima is being celebrated in a different manner this year. "I urge all of the Buddhist community to celebrate their festival staying at their respective homes," he said.

In her message, Hasina said Buddhist leaders have a significant role in maintaining the communal harmony in the country.

She said the whole world is now in a crisis due to coronavirus outbreak, while the World Health Organisation declared it a pandemic.

Against the backdrop of coronavirus pandemic, Hasina urged the Buddhist community to celebrate their largest religious festival avoiding mass gatherings.