The Nepal Tourism Board and the Embassy of Nepal in Bangkok, in collaboration with the Non-Resident Nepalese Association Thailand and the Nepal-Thailand Friendship Association, successfully organized a two-day event from May 11 to 12, 2025, to celebrate the 2569th Buddha Jayanti. The event, held under the theme “Nepal, Birthplace of Lord Buddha and Fountain of Peace,” highlighted the global significance of Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, as a center for peace, pilgrimage, and cultural unity.
Nepal Enlightened
The first day of the celebration featured an interactive session among 40 participants including tourism professionals, diplomatic delegates, scholars, and local stakeholders. The focus of the discussion was on promoting Buddhist pilgrimage tourism and enhancing cooperation between Nepal and Thailand for spiritual tourism development.
Hon. Prachanda Bikram Neupane, Minister for Industry, Tourism, and Transport of Lumbini Province, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing Lumbini’s growing potential as a sacred pilgrimage destination. He stressed that it is not only the spiritual importance of Lumbini that makes it special, but also the economic opportunity it presents for local communities. “We are committed to creating jobs and integrating local residents from Buddhist heritage sites into tourism-driven development,” he said.
Principal Secretary of Lumbini Province, Mr. Babu Ram Adhikari, further highlighted upcoming initiatives from the provincial government, including the promotion of organic agricultural products aligned with sustainable tourism models. He underscored that these initiatives would ensure both cultural preservation and economic upliftment.
The session also saw participation from the chiefs and deputy chiefs of municipalities surrounding Lumbini, including Kapilvastu, Tilaurakot, and Devdaha sites historically linked with the life of Siddhartha Gautam (Lord Buddha). They presented their localized strategies and development programs aiming to transform these heritage sites into world-class spiritual and economic zones. These plans include infrastructure enhancement, tourism services, and regional integration with neighboring pilgrimage routes.
The second day marked the main celebration of Buddha Jayanti with a peace rally from Bangkok’s Lumpini Park. Over 300 participants, including monks, locals, diplomats, and Nepalese expatriates, walked together to spread the message of peace, harmony, and nonviolence core teachings of Buddha. The rally served as a symbolic representation of it’s call for global peace through the philosophy of the Enlightened One born in its sacred soil.
The peace rally was followed by a formal event at a hotel venue in Bangkok, which saw high-level participation from both Nepal and Thailand. The event was graced by Hon. Minister Neupane, Thailand’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Chief Monk of Thailand and other Buddhist clergy, ambassadors, and representatives of diplomatic missions in Bangkok, as well as Nepalese municipal representatives from the Lumbini region.
During the special event, Mr. Laxman Gautam from the Nepal Tourism Board delivered a detailed multimedia presentation showcasing Nepal’s Buddhist heritage sites such as Lumbini, Tilaurakot, Ramgram, and others, as major pilgrimage destinations in the Buddhist tourism circuit. He emphasized how spiritual tourism can foster international peace and intercultural understanding, while also supporting Nepal’s tourism economy.
British archaeologist and Professor Robin Cunningham delivered an in-depth presentation on recent excavation works and archaeological discoveries in Lumbini and Tilaurakot. His talk shed light on the historical and cultural authenticity of these sacred locations, supported by archaeological evidence dating back to the time of Buddha. He remarked that the ongoing archaeological work continues to establish Lumbini’s universal value as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Nepal’s Ambassador to Thailand, H.E. Dhan Bahadur Oli, welcomed the distinguished guests and highlighted the significance of the celebration, noting that Buddha Jayanti is now recognized globally as Vesak Day by the United Nations. He praised the spiritual legacy of Buddha and Nepal’s enduring role as the guardian of his birthplace.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Monk of Thailand shared an inspiring interpretation of the inscriptions on Emperor Ashoka’s pillar at Lumbini, emphasizing its universal message of peace. He praised Nepal for preserving this sacred heritage and underlined the importance of Buddhist cooperation between the two countries for mutual spiritual and cultural enrichment. This celebration marks a milestone in it’s continued efforts to position Lumbini as a key destination in the global Buddhist pilgrimage network.
It not only commemorated the birth of Lord Buddha but also deepened Nepal-Thailand relations through cultural diplomacy, tourism promotion, and shared spiritual values. With growing international interest in Buddhist heritage tourism, the NTB and other stakeholders are expected to continue hosting such events around the world to connect with the global Buddhist community and promote Nepal as a land of peace, enlightenment, and living history.
