Kathin Chibar Dan celebrated with accolades in Rajban Bihar

The 46^th Kathin Chibar Dan celebrations concluded in Rajban Bihar of Rangamati on Friday afternoon. Devotees seeking good fortune donated Kathin Chibar for the Buddhist monks on the concluding day.

The Kathin Chibar was made of cotton threads spinned in less than 24 hours.

Devotees from Thailand, India and other Buddhist majority countries also took part in the observance.

Kathin Chibar Dan (offering of robe woven with hard work) is one of the biggest religious festivals of the Buddhist community when the devotees offer manually woven robes to monks.

Following the offering of Kathin Chibar on Friday afternoon in the west field of Rajban Bihar, the Chakma circle chief Barrister Devasish Roy handed over the Chibar to the principal of Rajban Bihar Praggalankar Mahasthibar.

Prior to that, the Chibar was processioned around the Rajban Bihar. The devotees offered different goods into the Chibar and then proceeded to the Panchasheel Grohon.

Devasish Roy led the Panchasheel prayers, and Praggalankar Mahasthabir offered the proceedings.

Barrister Devasish Roy and Senior Vice-President of the Priest and Priestess Association of the Ban Bihar Gautam Dewan delivered speech on the celebration.

The Chakma queen, Yen Yen, parliament member Bashanti Chkma, Zila Parishad Chairman Breshketu Chakma, Army commander of Rangamati region Brigadier General Maynur Rahman, District Commissioner of Rangamati AKM Mamunur Rashid and Superintendent of Police Alamgir Kabir were also present during the event.

The 46^th Kathin Chibar Dan ended with sermons from the Buddhist monks.

The Buddhist festival traced its history back in 2,500 years ago when Tathagata Buddha or Gautam Buddha gave a chibar, made in less than 24 hours, to his nurse Bishakha.

Following that tradition, the Buddhist community in the Chittagong Hill Tracts has been observing the festival since 1974.