For more than a week, extensive rumours circulated that 25 billionaires from around the world were scheduled to arrive in Lumbini, Buddha’s birthplace, to attend a global peace conference. Expectations were high, with many expecting to see Nepal’s Prime Minister, or at least federal government ministers. However, the event turned out to be far smaller than anticipated.
Only Local Representative Present; Senior Officials Absent
Despite the hype, neither federal nor provincial ministers nor lawmakers attended the inaugural program. The sole local representative present was Kalpana Harijan, Acting Mayor of Lumbini Cultural Municipality. Nationally, actor Rajesh Hamal was the only widely recognized figure at the event.
The inauguration was jointly conducted by Harijan and Nikesh Adhikari, President of The Promised Land Foundation, the organizing body. Officials from the Lumbini Development Trust were notably absent. Senior Officer Gyanin Rai of the Trust stated that the event had no formal coordination with the Trust. “We only provide the hall on rent. There is no requirement for the Trust to be involved in every program,” Rai said.
Main Guest: Ethiopian Prime Minister Tamrat Len
The event’s principal foreign guest was Tamrat Layne, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, accompanied by a few experts and business representatives. Despite earlier claims that 25 billionaires would attend, the atmosphere in the hall did not reflect such a high-profile gathering. Even though Rupandehi hosts more than a dozen business associations, only one or two representatives attended. Many local journalists also reported not receiving invitations.
Large Hall, Sparse Audience
The Lumbini Assembly Hall, which can accommodate 4,000 to 5,000 people, saw a very small turnout. Much of the audience consisted of scouts and students. One member of the organizing team acknowledged that the event felt underwhelming and did not meet initial expectations.
