Bangladesh celebrates largest Buddhist festival

DHAKA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The Buddhist community in Bangladesh celebrated on Wednesday "Buddha Purnima," one of their major festivals to mark Gautama Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death.

All the pagodas in the capital city were decorated with illuminated decorations and temples all over the country were crowded. Various rituals were performed and fruits, flowers and candles were offered to statues of Lord Buddha who was born on a full moon day in 563 BC.

Special prayers were offered at all monasteries across the country, seeking peace, progress and prosperity for the nation.

On the occasion, Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted the Buddhist community as well as the countrymen.