Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, stated that Lumbini is not only a center of faith for Buddhists but also a global hub for peace tourism. Speaking at the inauguration of the Second Lumbini International Peace Festival and Meditation Festival, Minister Pandey emphasized that Lumbini serves as a sacred site for peace-loving people worldwide. He highlighted the potential of spreading messages of peace, unity, and humanity globally from the birth place of Gautam Buddha. The ministry is actively working on the preservation of Lumbini, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Minister Pandey also mentioned that Nepal can benefit from cultural, spiritual, and adventure tourism, with the birth place of Gautam Buddha as a key destination. He urged for the implementation of recent agreements with countries like Thailand and Cambodia for tourism promotion, cultural exchange, and aviation service expansion. As the chairman of the Lumbini Development Trust, he stressed the need to develop Tilaurakot, Devdaha, and Ramgram into a global peace city.
Vice Chairman of the Lumbini Development Trust, Dr. Lharkyal Lama, stated that Lumbini is one of the best meditation sites in the world. He emphasized that the festival would play a crucial role in promoting the birthplace of Buddha and spreading the message of peace. Deepak Raj Joshi, CEO of the Nepal Tourism Board, highlighted that the peace festival would significantly contribute to tourism promotion. He added that the festival, along with meditation and cultural programs, would send a positive message globally.
Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, Chen Song, stated that China organized the second International Peace Conference at the birth place of Gautam Buddha to strengthen ties with Nepal. He expressed confidence that the festival would facilitate cultural, sports, religious, and people-to-people exchanges between Nepal, China, and other nations.
The inauguration featured a meditation session at the Mayadevi Temple Garden with the participation of 100 monks and 400 practitioners. Additionally, the Third Lumbini International Peace Marathon is scheduled for Saturday to mark the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. The festival, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation in collaboration with various institutions and the Chinese Embassy, officially commenced on Thursday.
