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Kamalapur Dharmarajika Bauddha Vihara the first Buddhist
vihara (monastery) in dhaka,
was established in 1960 at the initiative of bishuddhananda
mahathera. It acts as the cultural and regional centre of Bangladeshi
Buddhists. For over four decades it has been the religious centre for
both local and foreign Buddhists living in Dhaka. The Dharmarajik Pali
College was established here in 1960.
The first foreign head of state to visit the vihara was
King Bhumibol of Thailand who visited it along with his wife, Queen Sirikit,
in 1962. On the occasion of their visit, a large prayer hall, named after
atish dipankar
srijnan, was built at the vihara.
Subsequently, several dignitaries from home and abroad, and
professing different religions, have visited this centre. The
vihara has a large collection of Buddha statues. Among them are
a massive, 10' high, bronze statue given in 1984 by Thailand and
another golden statue, 2'8" high, given by Japan.
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Dharmarajika
Bauddha Vihara,
Kamalapur, Dhaka |
During the Liberation War in 1971 many men, women and
children, irrespective of religion, were given shelter at the vihara.
After liberation, the Dharmarajik Orphanage was established for the children
affected by the war. The Dharmarajik High School was established in 1972,
Dharmarajik Technical School and Dharmarajik Kindergarten in 1993, Dharmarajik
Fine Arts Academy in 1995, Dharmarajik Literary Society and Dharmarajik
Nikkiuniyano Clinic in 1996.
In 1996 the Dharmarajik International Prayer Hall was
opened at the vihara by Prime Minister sheikh
hasina. [Sukomal Barua]
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