The Buddhist community in Khagrachhari is celebrating the sacred occasion of Madhu Purnima on Saturday with solemnity and deep religious devotion. Temples across the district have been alive with various rituals and offerings since early morning.
Madhu Purnima, observed on the second full moon during the monks’ three-month-long rainy retreat, known as Varshavasa, holds significant spiritual importance in the Buddhist tradition. According to Buddhist scriptures, it commemorates the day when a monkey offered honey to Lord Gautama Buddha, symbolising an act of devotion that became the foundation of the festival.
Devotees gathered at local temples carrying flowers, fruits, honey, and food items. The day’s rituals included mass prayers for peace and well-being, chanting of the Panchashila (Five Precepts), floral offerings to Buddha images, almsgiving to the Sangha, presentation of the Eight Requisites, and the traditional Pindadan, in which food is offered to monks.
For the Buddhist community, Madhu Purnima represents more than just a series of rituals. It is a day that embodies unity, selflessness, and the shared quest for peace and welfare.