3rd International Buddhist Conference to begin at Lumbini

Kathmandu: Nepal’s Lumbini-the birthplace of Lord Buddha – is all set to give a warm welcome to delegates from at least 21 foreign countries, who will be arriving in Nepal to attend the 3rd International Buddhist Conference to be held from May 5-7 on the auspicious occasion of 2564th Buddha Jayanti.

According to the main organizing committee of the International Buddhist Conference, the three-day conference will be held in Lumbini.

The main organizing committee meeting held at the Ministry of Culture Tourism and Civil Aviation divulged that the participating international delegates for the Buddhist conference will be coming from Thailand, India, Myanmar, China, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Mongolia, US, Bangladesh,  Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Japan, United Kingdom,  Russia, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Costa Rica, France, and Germany.

However, owing to the pandemic fear of Coronavirus in China, Chinese participants are likely to stay back from participation.

Speaking during the meeting of the organizing committee, tourism Minister Yogesh Bhattarai said, “This conference will help to promote Nepal as a religious destination. As the country is celebrating the Visit Nepal 2020 campaign, this conference could help us to bring in a large number of tourists into the country.”

A conference hall with the capacity to accommodate 5,000 participants for the conference has been built in Lumbini. The meeting has decided to observe Buddha Jayanti this year with a week-long celebration. On the first day of Buddha Jayanti week on May 1, a cleaning campaign will be carried out in Lumbini, Bhairahawa, Kapilvastu and Ramgram areas. It will be followed by a blood donation program on May 2 and tree plantation on May 3 in Rupandehi and Kapilvastu.

A peace marathon and cultural events will be hosted on May 4,  in Lumbini. During the three days of the conference, peace rallies and chanting of Paritran Paath will also be conducted.