Buddha Purnima, the biggest religious festival of the Buddhist community, is celebrated across the country on Thursday (May 4).

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 Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages greeting the Buddhist community on the occasion.

The day was a public holiday in Bangladesh.

BDST: 2129 HRS, MAY 04, 2023
MSK