Kathin Chibar Dan begins

The two-day long Kathin Chibar Dan, the biggest religious festival of Buddhists in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), began yesterday in the district through spinning wheel. 

Chakma Rani Yan Yan inaugurated the 44th festival at Rajban Bihar around 3:00pm.

Raja Barrister Devasish Roy, chief of Chakma circle, and Goutam Dewan, president of Upasjak Upashika Karjonirbahi Parishad, among others, were present at the function.

“Every year we hold this Kathin Chibar Dan with religious ferver and festivity to preserve our tradition and customs,” said Raja Devasish Roy.

Buddhist devotees are always polite and sincere to people of other religion, he said.

At the time of Buddha, Bishakha (a nurse of Buddha) introduced the religious festival about 2500 years ago to give Chibar through Goutam Buddha. Since then the Buddhist community has been celebrating the Kathin Chibar Dan every year.

Thousands of Buddhists devotes from three hill districts have gathered in and around the Rajban Bihar area since yesterday.

Sattyajit Barua, officer-in-charge of Rangamati Police Station, said over 500 police personnel have been deployed in the area to avert any unwanted incident.