Dhaka, May 17 (UNB)- Buddhists across the country are celebrating their biggest religious festival, Buddha Purnima, today marking the advent, nirvana (enlightenment) and departure of Lord Gautama Buddha.

Lord Buddha was born at Kapila Bastu in Nepal in 563 BC, got nirvana at the age of 35 in Gaya in the Indian state of Bihar and departed from this world at the age of 80 (483BC).

The Buddhist community is holding various programmes to observe the day in a befitting manner. The day is a public holiday.

The festival is being celebrated in all monasteries and by different Buddhist organisations through elaborate programmes. The day's programmes have been started with hoisting of the national and religious flags atop all monasteries at dawn and chanting of sacred verses from the Tripitaka.

President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages on the occasion.

Special prayers will also be offered seeking peace, progress and prosperity of the country.