When did the Madhu Purnima in Bangladesh start?
About Madhu Purnima in Bangladesh Holiday
Madhu Purnima is a time-honored religious and cultural event celebrated in Bangladesh every September. This year, the holiday will occur on September 28th, 2023. On this festive day, people come together in harmony to express gratitude towards the divine power and honor the selfless sacrifices made for humankind.
This holiday is full of grandeur and has a rich history behind it. The holiday was first celebrated by the Buddhists of Bangladesh over 1,000 years ago. It marks the Gautama Buddha's delivery of his famous speech at the night of Madhu Purnima, a story that has since been narrated in the Avadana-Shataka scriptures. For Buddhists, Madhu Purnima is an important milestone in their spiritual journey. The event epitomizes the freedom of individual purity and a renunciation from all the material possessions.
Apart from its religious significance, Madhu Purnima also serves to strengthen the social bonds of the community. People from all walks of life come together to celebrate the day and perform traditional rituals like “Kowpuja”, where offerings are made to the deity. The community also has numerous outdoor festivals with music, dance, and delicious local Bengali dishes like Pitha and Malpua.
Madhu Purnima is truly an amazing holiday that perpetually keeps garnering immense attention from across Bangladesh. It is an opportunity to deepen our spiritual connection through inner reflection, and an event that unites us to celebrate our shared culture.
Madhu Purnima in Bangladesh
History and Origin
Madhu Purnima, commonly known as honey or sweet full moon, is an auspicious Hindu festival celebrated in Bangladesh every year. Different versions of this festival are being celebrated throughout the Indian subcontinent, each with its own history and origin story. It is believed that in ancient times, the honey was considered to be a medicinal food for the gods and hence, the ritual of bathing the Shivalingam with honey was initiated.
The specific festival of Madhu Purnima celebrates an event that is said to have taken place on the full moon day of Shravan, written in Shastras/ Puranas that the Vaishnavas took a bath on the full moon day at ‘Gomukh’ near Rameshwaram in South India with this honey. The legend follows that they bathed Lord Rama’s Shivalingam with Madhu water consisting of honey and Ganges water.
Since then, this festival has been celebrated each year on this day by devotees of Lord Shiva and Rama to commemorate their devotion and mark the tradition of Madhu Purnima. These devotees offer prayers and take a holy bath in a river or pond, where they clean their body, mind, and soul and fill it with the positive energy.
In recent times, a popular folk drama called Madhu Purnimaye Gondhal has also become popular among people in rural areas and Madhu Purnima is celebrated in a grander way with nagarleelas or processions with decorated clay idols of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Mahalakshmi.
Significance and Meaning
For Hindus, Madhu Purnima symbolizes the importance of purity, cleanliness, and devotion to the gods. It is a day when believers come together to remember their devotion to Lord Shiva and Lord Rama. Devotees also cleanse their souls and make offerings to the gods to receive their blessings and to appeal for protection.
The festival also holds immense significance for married couples as it is believed that the holy day brings in more auspiciousness and prosperity to the home. Wives draw intricate patterns of akshat with turmeric powder on the forehead of their husband which is a sign of luck and prosperity. In some regions, the festival also marks the seasonal change for the farmers as they begin to prepare and sow the land for the new season.
Traditions and Celebrations
Madhu Purnima in Bangladesh is celebrated with much vigor and enthusiasm. During the festival, devotees visit the temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and offer their prayers as a mark of respect. At homes, families come together to make sweet delicacies with honey as the main ingredient, which is an offering to the gods.
On this day, people take a bath in the holy rivers and wrap themselves in white cloth as the festival signifies a new beginning of sorts. They light a Diya (oil lamp) and offer flowers and fruits to the gods as a sign of their devotion.
Some of the other popular Madhu Purnima rituals include making traditional food items with rice, honey, and jaggery. People offer these as prasadam to the gods as a mark of their respect. This includes dishes like Khichdi, Payas, and Gulabjamun.
Geographical Spread
Madhu Purnima is widely celebrated across different states in India, including West Bengal, Bihar, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Odisha and Jharkhand. However, the most popular celebrations of this longest-running festival are observed in the eastern parts of the country such as Assam, West Bengal, and Bangladesh.
In Bangladesh, Madhu Purnima is widely celebrated in Dhaka, Mymensingh, Rajshahi and other parts of the region. This is why it is also known as Madhu Purnima in Bangladesh. Devotees flock to temples and river banks to bathe in the holy water and seek divine intervention.
Modern Day Observations
Just like any other festival, Madhu Purnima in Bangladesh has undergone various changes over the years. Even as the traditional rituals still continue to be followed, a lot more focus has been given to the celebration and well-being of the society as a whole.
In recent times, more emphasis is placed on the sustainability of the environment and the environment friendly practices. Many devotees celebrate Madhu Purnima by planting saplings, taking part in mass cleanliness drives, or participating in upcycling programs. This clearly shows that Madhu Purnima has over time shed its original religious aspect and adapted to become more meaningful and sustainable.
Interesting Facts or Trivia
1. Madhu Purnima is a harvest festival that celebrates the honey collected, hence the name Madhu Purnima as ‘Madhu’ means honey in Sanskrit.
2. Madhu Purnima is celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu calendar month of Shravan, which usually falls in the month of August.
3. Madhu Purnima is associated with the stories of Lord Krishna and his sons – Prad Kimmel and Syam Kumal mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana.
4. During the festival, devotees offer honey to Lord Shiva and seek his blessings.
5. People in rural areas observe the Bhajan mela where they sing devotional songs throughout the night for the entire month of Sawan in the honor of Lord Krishna.
Holiday Wishes
1. Wish you and your family a blessed Madhu Purnima.
2. May all your wishes come true on this Madhu Purnima.
3. Sending you the best of blessings on Madhu Purnima.
4. May you and your family find peace, joy and prosperity on Madhu Purnima.
5. Wishing you and your family a joyous Madhu Purnima.
Holiday Messages
1. May Lord Shiva and Rama shower their blessings on and fill your life with abundance of joy and happiness this Madhu Purnima.
2. May this Madhu Purnima bring in new beginnings in your life and fill it with divine grace and blessing.
3. Madhu Purnima is a reminder of how the power of devotion can bring us closer to the gods. May this festival bring peace and happiness to you and your family.
4. May the divine light of Lord Shiva and Lord Rama bring in a new spark in your life and fill your days with contentment and joy.
5. May Lord Shiva and Rama’s blessings bring in prosperity into your life and fill it with abundance.
Holiday Quotes
1. “The language of prayer is the same everywhere: it is love.” – Leo Tolstoy
2. “The story of Ram and Sita is reflection of the great Indian culture, knowledge, devotion, courage and sense of dharma.” – Narendra Modi
3. “True devotion is never blind faith, but is based on understanding and knowledge.” – Swami Nirmalananda
4. “My devotion is my link between the spiritual and the physical. It has enabled me to really feel the absolute.” – Deepak Chopra
5. “Let your devotion to your lord be unfaltering that you may be blessed with peace and joy.” –Sri Guru Granth Sahib
Other Popular Holiday Info
Madhu Purnima is one of the most important Hindu festivals and is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Bangladesh. Since its inception, people celebrate this festival with great devotion and sincerity as the festival symbolizes the power of purity and the importance of cleanliness.
The festival brings in people from different communities together and the rituals involved in the festival are a reminder of the country’s rich cultural history and values. Madhu Purnima also acts as a reminder of the stories of devotion and reverence passed down from generations.
The festival of Madhu Purnima is also becoming increasingly popular beyond the traditional Hindu community and many people, irrespective of their religious affiliations, celebrate this day as it signifies the epitome of pure devotion and a new beginning.
Madhu Purnima in Bangladesh Also Called
The festival of Madhu Purnima in Bangladesh is also known as the festival of Buddh Purnima. This is an important religious celebration for Buddhists in Bangladesh and is celebrated with great reverence. A great number of Buddhists gather in monasteries and temples around the country to celebrate it. During this festival, Buddhists offer various types of religious rituals and celebrate the birth of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.Countries where "Madhu Purnima in Bangladesh" is celebrated:
FUN FACT:
In year 1402, Madhu Purnima in Bangladesh is celebrated on September 18 for the first time.HOLIDAY CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, please click here to contact us!