Prabarana Purnima in Bangladesh

When did the Prabarana Purnima in Bangladesh start?

The first recorded date of Prabarana Purnima in Bangladesh being celebrated on October 17 was in the year 1949.

About Prabarana Purnima in Bangladesh Holiday

Prabarana Purnima is a unique and exciting celebration in Bangladesh. It is one of the most celebrated Hindu festivals in the country. The festival is celebrated with grand festivities and great enthusiasm, marking the end of the traditional Hindu lunar calendar. This year, Prabarana Purnima will take place on the 30th of November.

The term Prabarana Purnima literally translates to the 'full moon' in Sanskrit. The full moon night marks a special moment of joy and celebration for the Hindu community. On this special day, millions of people gather at sacred sites to offer prayers and light lamps to mark the victorious overcoming of darkness. On Prabarana Purnima, a special immersion process takes place in Hindu temples, which involves the symbolic washing away of one's negativity along with bad luck or jumla clap.

In addition to the prayers and celebrations, Prabarana Purnima marks the start of the Bengali New Year. The celebration of the new year is accompanied by cheerful singing, dancing, feasting, and general merriment. Prabarana Purnima is the perfect time for families and friends to come together and shower each other with happiness and gifts. On this day, the streets and markets of Bangladesh are filled with the sound of joy and happiness as people celebrate the new year with great zeal and enthusiasm.

Prabarana Purnima in Bangladesh: A Comprehensive Guide

Prabarana Purnima in Bangladesh is an important festival celebrated by Hindus living in the country. It is also referred to as “Krishna Janmashtami” or simply “Janmashtami”, and is celebrated on the eighth day of the Hindu lunar month of “Shravan”. The festival is celebrated to honor and revere the birth of Lord Krishna, an avatar of Lord Vishnu, who is believed to be an incarnation of eternal energy or “Supreme Being”. This festival is celebrated with utmost enthusiasm throughout Bangladesh.

History and Origin

The ancient Hindu scriptures, such as the Mahabharata and the Puranas, contain many references to the life of Lord Krishna. The spiritual significance of the festival is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology. The exact origins of this ancient festival are not known, but many Hindu scholars believe that the celebration of Prabarana Purnima in Bangladesh began thousands of years ago.

Originally, Janmashtami was celebrated mainly in the northern parts of India, such as Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar. However, it is believed that over the passage of time, the festival traveled throughout India and eventually reached other countries, including Bangladesh.

The traditional celebrations involve fasting at midnight, or soon after the birth of Lord Krishna which is believed to have occurred at midnight, chanting of hymns, singing, reading scriptures, and performing the traditional “puja” with ceremonial rituals. Today, more modern festivities like plays, art performances, and dances based on the life of Lord Krishna are also particularly practiced in Bangladesh.

Significance and Meaning

The festival of Prabarana Purnima in Bangladesh has a spiritual significance. Hindus believe that Lord Krishna is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who incarnates himself on Earth from time to time to bring hope and restore faith in humanity.

Krishna’s moral teachings as mentioned in the ancient texts are deep and meaningful. As such, this festival serves as an occasion for individual soul-searching and soul-healing, enabling devotees to connect with a higher power. It is a great opportunity for self-discovery and spiritual awakening.

Traditions and Celebrations

Prabarana Purnima in Bangladesh is celebrated with much enthusiasm and grandeur. The tried and tested old-age traditions are still being practiced throughout the country.

The traditional fasting starts at midnight, or sometimes even before, to commemorate the birth of Lord Krishna. Devotees keep vigil throughout the night and celebrate the birth of the divine child. Hindus believe that Lord Krishna was born in the holy city of Mathura. To ensure that they receive blessings from Lord Krishna, devotees offer their prayers and devotion in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India.

The most common ways of celebrating Janmashtami include the performance of “puja” or rituals, singing of religious songs and bhajans, and enacting plays or dramas based on the life and stories of Lord Krishna. Aside from these, people in Bangladesh often dress up like Lord Krishna and Radha, enact their story, and imitate them with devotion.

Geographical Spread

Throughout Bangladesh, Prabarana Purnima is celebrated with great vigor and enthusiasm. From cities to villages, each corner of the country is beset with an air of celebrations on the occasion of this important religious festival.

The most popular forms of celebrations include fasting, taking a holy dip in the river Ganges or any local holy river, offerings to the gods, and various other activities. In some places, people make statues of Lord Krishna with butter and flour and decorate them with flowers.

Fairs and melas (festivals) are also held in some parts of the country. People visit these fairs and enjoy a variety of festivities such as kirtans (devotional singing), dancing, theatre, puppet shows, and folk songs. In the rural areas, the birthday of Lord Krishna is celebrated with traditional sports like wrestling and even boat races.

Modern Day Observations

The celebration of Prabarana Purnima in Bangladesh has undergone some changes in recent times. For example, instead of wrestling, nowadays, cricket is played in many places to aptly celebrate the festival. Rangolis, a type of sand painting, are also displayed during the festival.

Kirtans, a form of devotional singing to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna, are still popular among many. Other modern-day activities involve reciting stories of Lord Krishna, distributing prasaad (offerings to deities), and making offerings in temples or any makeshift shrines.

Interesting Facts or Trivia

• Prabarana Purnima is also known as Shyama Puja, going back to the Sanskrit root words “syah” meaning black or dark and “poojan” meaning prayer or worship.

• Janmashtami is celebrated over two days in some communities in Bangladesh. The first day is known as “Kalabozh”, the day on which Lord Krishna’s birth is celebrated and the second day, known as “Bhidiya”, signifies the day when personifications of Lord Krishna’s evil old demon king Uncle Kansa were defeated.

• On the day of Prabarana Purnima, devotees break traditional clay pots filled with yogurt and butter, which is meant to symbolize the breaking of the Kansa’s pot of sin.

• Playing the flute is an important tradition associated with Janmashtami in Bangladesh. Lord Krishna is believed to have been an expert player of the flute, and flute playing has now come to be associated with the festival.

• In some parts of the country, the festival is celebrated with the Dahi handi competition where a human pyramids is made to reach and break an earthen pot containing dahi or yogurt which is hung at a height.

• Another ritual particular to Bangladesh is the holding of anklet-tying ceremonies, known as “Choora Uthan”. On this auspicious day, the feet of young children are adorned with new silver anklets and toe rings.

Holiday Wishes

1. May the joy and blessings of Lord Krishna shower upon your family this Prabarana Purnima.
2. Wishing and praying that the love of Lord Krishna illuminates your home and lives.
3. May this Janmashtami brings you beautiful moments of togetherness and loads of blessings from Lord Krishna.
4. Wishing you good health, peace, and prosperity on the holy occasion of Prabarana Purnima.
5. May the divine grace of Lord Krishna be with you now and always.

Holiday Messages

1. Wishing you an amazing and joyous Janmashtami, may Lord Krishna bless you abundantly.
2. Wishing you a delightful Prabarana Purnima filled with beautiful moments of love, cheer, and devotion.
3. Wishing you a celebration filled with happiness and faithfulness.
4. Let the Almighty bring peace and Happiness in your life on Janmashtami.
5. May Lord Krishna grace your life with blessings of joy, hope, and love today and always.

Holiday Quotes

1. “Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong.” – Lord Krishna
2. “Sorrows will disappear like dark night into the light of bright morning.” – Lord Krishna
3. “Just as a single fire fuels many lamps, A single Lord Krishna shines in the core of every human being.” – Bhagavad Gita
4. “Work without attachment, Sleep without dreams, Sing with devotion, That is my teaching.” – Lord Krishna
5. “Act without any expectation of results. If you don’t get the result you wanted, you’ll still be content.” – Lord Krishna

Other Popular Holiday Info

The festival of Prabarana Purnima is observed with great fanfare in Bangladesh. Oftentimes, idols of Lord Krishna are brought home and placed in a clean, fragrant place. After offering puja and chanting mantras, a feast is prepared with many delicacies. The whole family come together, enjoy the feast, and offer “arati” or prayers in Lord Krishna’s honor.

The main highlights of this festival in Bangladesh also include street processions where the devotees, some dressed up like Lord Krishna and Radha, carry the idol of Lord Krishna from one place to another while singing bhajans (devotional songs) in praise of him.

Overall, the celebration of Prabarana Purnima in Bangladesh is a colorful, meaningful, and deeply spiritual experience. It is a way of connecting with Lord Vishnu’s avatar Lord Krishna while encouraging love, devotion, and the spirit of selflessness.