Buddha Purnima today

Buddha Purnima, the biggest religious festival of the Buddhist community, is being celebrated across the country today amid Covid restrictions.

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 have issued separate messages greeting the Buddhist community on the occasion.

The day is a public holiday.

Newspapers have published different articles while Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television (BTV) and private TV channels are airing special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.