Barua Buddhist Festivals

 

Buddhist Barua by faith all of them are Theravada Buddhist Religion and ethnic group of Chittagong hill track. During British colonial period and East Pakistan some Baruas are migrated in India and abroad.

Presently Barua tribes speak Chittagongi Bengali (Mixed language of Bengali, Arakanian and Urdu) in Bangladesh, Bengali in West Bengal, Assamese in Assam, and Hindi in Northern belt of India. Now among in new generation, most of them are interested at English and Hindi languages in India. Most of the Buddhist Baruas in India can speak more than three languages very comfortably.

In India Baruas are adapted with local Indian culture and maintain their old traditional religion equally. All of them are socially and religiously linked with Buddhist temple, although they are scattered in different places in towns, villages with different religious group. Most of the north east Barua Buddhist Temple are religiously supervised by Chakma monks. Nothing can be denied; the Hinduism has influenced deeply to Baruas social life with passing of time and the value of Buddhism is loosing among in new generation, especially in India.

In Bangladesh, the old tradition have been maintained some extend, although Islamic influence is clearly visible in their language and culture.

Dikkha or Pabbajja or shooni

Religious & Social Festivals

•           Buddha Purnima

•           Arahanth Sīvali Puja

•           Madhu Purnima

•           Kotin chibor Dana

•           Sangha dana & Atthaparikkhara Dana

•           Fanos-bazi

•           Sadang

•           Dikkha or Pabbajja or shooni etc

In India most of the young generation of Baruas are likes to participate in Hindu festivals and pujas.

Other social festivals which are adopted mostly from Hindu society and it is now inherent part of Barua customs :

Kotin Chibor Dana

In occasion of new born baby:

•           Anno Prason.(Bhath-Suani).

•           Hulu Dhani only female members

•           Panchaila prarthana (prayer to Lord Buddha) and do Vandana (Prayer to Monk) to the present Bhikkhu Sangha.

In occasion of Marriage ceremony, the following social rituals follow by members of family, bright groom & friends:

•           Ashirbad

•           Bostra-Alonkar Chorani,

•           Pan-Mita,

•           Jorani Bhat,

•           Pan-Salla,

•           Tele-Chorani,

•           Boron Khula,

•           Panchaila prarthana (prayer to Lord Buddha) and do Vandana (Prayer to Monk) to the present Bhikkhu Sangha.

•           Hulu Dhani only female members,

•           Borjatri,

•           Ferajatra etc

In occasion of Married woman get pregnant and family members celebrates.

•           Sadh Bhakhon,

•           Hulu Dhani, only female members.

In occasion of funeral:

•           "Offering of cloth on behalf of the dead" (mataka-vastra-puja)

•           burning the death body.

•           "Preaching for the benefit of the dead" (mataka-bana)

•           "Offering in the name of the dead" (mataka-dana) (/ Pindi dan) etc

References

• ) Buddhism in Bangladesh [2]
• ) A case study of Buddhist Social Customs in Bangladesh by BHIKKHU DHARMESWAR

[3]

Composed by:

Sujit Barua
Upper Lummawri
Laitumkhrah
Shillong 793003