The three-day Poy-Lang festival to be held on this Saturday in the fields next to the Buddhist Monastery of Chalapathar in the Charaideo area will be organized by the Shyam Gaon Buddhist Monastery. In honor of the late Shasanbansh Mahathera Vante, a three-day Poy-Leng celebration is being held in accordance with Buddhist customs and traditions.
Shasanbansh Mahathera Vante had been a monk at the Shyam Gaon Buddhist Monastery for almost 40 years.
On August 23, 2023, Shasanbansh Mahathera passed away at the Buddhist Monastery at Chalapatha.
The festival is celebrated mainly by pulling specially designed chariots in which the bodies of outgoing Buddhist monks are kept. At the end of the three-day festival, the chariot will be set on fire, which will put an end to the rath yatra of the late monk.
It should be mentioned that a Buddhist monk who has lived in a revered monastery for more than 40 years does not immediately have his body cremated or buried.
The body of the monk is stuffed in a coffin for seven to eight months in a traditional and scientific manner and stored in a house called ‘Nick Paan Kong’.
After this, the festival of ‘Poy Lang’ is organised, and the said coffin is installed in the chariot. After paying their last respects to the monk in that chariot, the people present pulled the chariot from both sides like ropes. This act is considered to be an act of virtue and is believed to bring satisfaction to the dead monk.
It is noteworthy to mention that thousands of people have flocked to the festival site to take part in this rathotsav of the renowned religious leader of North East India and recipient of the Anandaram Baruah Award, Palibhasha, Buddhist-religion scholar, litterateur, and educationist Dharmaratna Shasavansh Mahather Bhante.
According to ANI one of the festival organizers, Piycheng Chawlo, said that the reason for the celebration of the Poy Lang festival is the passing of Dr. Sasavansh Mahathera. The Buddhist flag was raised this morning on the first day, and Mahathar Vante’s body was lowered into the chariot.
According to the organizing committee the festival is expected to take place today for three days, irrespective of the Buddhist people of North East India as well as caste and religion. Guests from South Korea, Thailand, Myanmar, and China will attend the event.