The Earthtimes online News
Home

Buddha's hair to aid Bangladesh-Sri Lanka ties - Feature

Chittagong, Bangladesh - A sombre mood pervaded the serene atmosphere inside a monastery Wednesday in the southern Bangladesh port city of Chittagong. Here in the ornate hall of the Buddhist temple amid the incantations by monks, representatives of t...
Posted : Wed, 18 Jul 2007 14:55:50 GMT
Author : DPA
Category : Asia (World)
News Alerts by Email ( click here )
Create your own RSS
Asia World News | Home
Chittagong, Bangladesh - A sombre mood pervaded the serene atmosphere inside a monastery Wednesday in the southern Bangladesh port city of Chittagong. Here in the ornate hall of the Buddhist temple amid the incantations by monks, representatives of the Bangladeshi government handed over to visiting Sri Lankan envoys a lock of hair from the holiest Gautama Buddha.

The 30-member high profile delegation from Colombo included Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and three other cabinet ministers.

Chief monk Vojonta Dharma Sen led the prayers in the monastery in Chittagong which was once the most attractive Buddhist city in South Asia.

"The gift of Buddha's hair will raise friendship and goodwill between the two countries," Ajit Ranjan Barua of the Bangladesh Buddhist Association told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

The signs of the ancient dominance of Buddhism in the region were visible all over in the port city, located more than 240 kilometres south of the capital Dhaka, and its suburbs.

Islamic militants and Hindu fanatics are said to have destroyed much evidence of Buddhist rule in the subcontinent.

However, some historically significant Viharas (monasteries) have been dug out from under the rain-soaked muddy landscapes of northern and eastern Bangladesh.

The hair relics of Buddha, known to followers as Kesho Dhatu, have been preserved for the last 77 years in the Chittagong temple.

Temple records show a Tibetan Buddhist monk, Shakya Bhikkhu, brought the sacred hair to Chittagong in the 1930s during his visit to the region as a gift for the local monks.

The Sri Lankan government reportedly made a request to the Bangladesh authorities for a piece of the relic. Bangladesh has already shared the sacred hair with Thailand and Japan.

Copyright, respective author or news agency



Article : Buddha's hair to aid Bangladesh-Sri Lanka ties - Feature
Print this article
Email this article

Stay Updated
News gadget on your Google homepage
Subscribe to a news feed in Google Reader

Share on

Have your Say
Name
Email
Subject
Your Comment

Enter Verification code
 
  

 

 
Your Comments

IT WAS GREAT
By: Nathasha , Wed, 18 Jul 2007 17:05:18 GMT

I was a lucky person to see the lord BUDDHA'S hair. I thank Bangladesh for giving this chance to have the hair to SRI LANKA and Sri Lanka will be very greatful as well.



More Asia (World) News click here

Choose Theme
Green Earth Blue Earth Orange Earth Purple Earth

Search
 
You can
Print this articleemail this articleComment on this article

Current News

News Category
Business
Entertainment
Environment
General
Health
Sports
Technology
World
- Africa
- America
- Asia
- Australasia
- Europe
- India
- Middle East
- UK
- US
Press Release
Add to Google Toolbar
Breaking News
Press Releases

About us | News Archives | Browse old Archive | Feedback | Disclaimer | Mobile/PDA | News Alerts

The views expressed in the articles are not necessarily those of earthtimes.org and we accept no responsibility for the views or opinions
expressed in the articles either direct or indirect.

© 2008 www.earthtimes.org, The Earth Times, All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy