AGARTALA, November 04 (TIWN): Thousands of Buddhists have congregated in Tripura's historical monastery ‘Prachya Vidya Vihar’ at Ujan Abhoynagar to participate in the 38th 'kathin Chibor Dan' festival, one of their main religious festivals.

'Kathin Chibor Dan' means 'Offering of Difficult Monk Robe', an annual colourful festival. Thousands of devotees from Dharmanagar, Khowai, Ambassa arrived at Buddha mandir where the chief and most venerable monks, read out from the Holy Tripitaka.
The festival’s Convener also read out special prayers seeking peace and religious harmony.
The temple’s monks were also offered or “Dan” robes or “Chibar” which are made of cotton and weaved by devotees overnight, hence the word “Kathin” or difficult is associated with it.
According to Buddhism, this festival symbolises the highest sacrifice. We would pray to God that peace is restored throughout the world. We want to spread Buddha's message of peace and we condemn violence," said Sumit Baruah, a devotee.
"This festival is celebrated throughout the world within one month of the conclusion of the Prabarana Purnima and devotees gather and donate different things to the monks, a symbol of sacrifice," said Gautam Chakma, another devotee. Through this festival we hope to regain peace for the entire mankind, not only Buddhist but for everyone, he added.
Bishakha, a nurse of Goutama Buddha, introduced the festival about 2,500 years ago.
It marks the conclusion of a three-month seclusion of monks who meditate inside their monasteries for self-edification and atonement for mankind and is preceded by another festival, Probarona Purnima, characterised by the release of sky lanterns.