May 16, 2022, Lumbini: 2566th Buddha Jayanti and Lumbini Day 2079 was observed modestly in Lumbini. The auspicious day marked a grand celebration amid presence of thousands of national and international guests and delegates including two Prime Ministers of Nepal and India. Right Honorable Prime Minister of Nepal Sher Bahadur Deuba and his counterpart Indian Prime Minister Right Honorable Narendra Damodar Modi attended the Buddha Jayanti Celebration program with much enthusiasm. The august presence of Modi Ji was the much-anticipated event in the program. 

The celebration was marked by sanitation and illumination of lights at Mayadevi Temple and international monasteries of Lumbini and Kapilavastu area, Devadaha and Ramagrama area. Monks and nuns from different countries performed puja and chanted at the birthplace of the Buddha on the occasion.  The main function of the Buddha Jayanti celebration was held in the Lumbini International Buddhist Meditation and Conference Centre. The conference hall was recently inaugurated by the Prime Minister Deuba. 

Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, in his address said, “It is our utmost pleasure having opportunity to welcome His Excellency Narendra Modi Ji in Lumbini and celebrate Buddha Jayanti together with him.” He further added that the historic visit of Shri Modi Ji had elevated the pride and historicity of Lumbini higher as the birthplace of Lord Sakyamuni Buddha. The Prime Minister Deuba highlighted the significance of Buddha’s teaching, “The Buddha’s profound teachings of non-violence and peaceful co-existence have played a great role to restore world order by reinforcing the purposes and principles cherished in the Charter of the United Nations. The Buddha’s doctrines of compassion and harmony are being more relevant in today’s chaotic world”. 

Addressing to the formal program of 2566th Buddha Jayanti Celebration, Right Honorable Prime Minister of India Shri Modi Ji said, “Visiting the holy birth place of the Buddha Mayadevi temple was unforgettable memory for me that arose devotional feeling. I am also happy to see that the sapling of the Mahabodhi tree that I had presented at this place in 2014 is now developing into a tree.” He added, “Whether it is Pashupatinathji, Muktinath ji, Janakpurdham or Lumbini, whenever I come to Nepal, Nepal gratifies me with its spiritual blessings.” 

“Nepal and India share common heritage, common culture, common faith and common love. We together can bring the message of Lord Buddha to the world and give direction to the world more efficiently. The ever-strengthening friendship of India and Nepal and our closeness, will serve the benefit of the entire humanity. And serving humanity is the reverence for the Buddha in real sense.”, PM Modi Ji said. He further added, “The relationship between India and Nepal is as stable as a mountain, and as old as a mountain. We have to give a new height to our instinctive and natural relationships as much as the Himalayas.” 

Hon’ble Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation of Nepal, Mr. Prem Bahadur Ale, who is Chairman of the Lumbini Development Trust (LDT) said, “The government of Nepal and Nepali people are highly honored to have the opportunity of welcoming Right Honorable Prime Minister of India Sri Narendra Modi Ji in Nepal.” He said that to have the opportunity to celebrate 2566th Buddha Jayanti in Lumbini with His Excellency Modi Ji was one of the rarest chances in the history of Lumbini Development Trust; for which the Trust and people of Lumbini were indebted forever. 

Minister Ale mentioned that Nepal and India were culturally so connected that our people-to-people relation was very deep and strong based on common civilization and cultural values. The Minister expressed his optimism that PM Modi Ji’s visit to Lumbini would boost cross-border tourism in the days to come and thanked PM Modi Ji for his gracious participation in Buddha Jayanti celebration. 

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and his entourage was welcomed in Lumbini by his counterpart Prime Minister of Nepal, Rt. Hon. Sher Bahadur Deuba, and his spouse Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, Culture Minister Hon. Prem Bahadur Ale, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Lumbini, Mr. Kul Prasad KC, Vice Chairman of LDT, Venerable Metteyya Shakya Putta, and several Ministers of the Government of Nepal were among the other dignitaries present.

On the auspicious occasion of Buddha Purnima, both Prime Ministers offered pooja and prayers at the sacred Mayadevi temple in Lumbini, the birth place of Gautam Buddha. Thereafter, the two leaders watered the Bodhi tree sapling from Bodh Gaya which was gifted by PM Modi to Lumbini in 2014 and PM Modi Ji signed the temple’s visitor’s book. PM Narendra Modi along with his Nepalese counterpart Sher Bahadur Deuba laid the foundation stone for the India International Centre for Buddhist Culture and Heritage in the Lumbini Monastic Zone here.  

On the following day, the image of infant Buddha was taken to Tilaurakot to commemorate the birth of the Buddha in Lumbini Garden in 623 BC and thereafter returning procession to his palace in Kapilavastu. Baby Buddha’s home return procession was participated by many devotees and with great eagerness and faith. Different speakers including former minister Deep Kumar Upadhyaya, Treasurer of LDT Mr. Dhundiraj Bhattarai and politician Geeta Anjan spoke on various aspects of Buddhism and Buddhist sites at the formal program organized at Tilaurakot on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti.