2567^th Buddha Jayanti and Lumbini Day 2080 was celebrated with a great pump in the organization of Lumbini Development Trust. The Baisakha (Vesakh) Day was celebrated for three day on May 4-6, 2023 in the Greater Lumbini Area.

Addressing the formal celebration program of Buddha Jayanti on May 5, the Chief Guest of the program Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) said that the Government of Nepal was committed to develop the Greater Lumbini Area sustainably with a proper master plan of each historic site. He also said that the Lumbini Master Plan is being implemented at a greater pace as a project of national pride.

He also recapped his visit to UN headquarters New York and discussion with then UN Secretary General Ban-ki Moon for the integrated development of Lumbini, Kapilavastu, Ramgrama and Devadaha sites as the national director of Greater Lumbini Area in 2011.

Emphasizing the significance of Tilaurakot, ancient Sakya capital city where prince Siddhartha spent 29 years of his early life, he urged all concerned to enlist the site in the World Heritage List as soon as possible to uplift the living standard of the people of Kapilavastu.

He said, "The Buddha's teaching of non-violence and world peace is more relevant today than during the Buddha's time. His teaching of four noble truth, eight fold path and dependent origination the most scientific philosophy to have deeper insight and practice"

The Prime Minister further said that Greater Lumbini had a great tourism potential as a world class tourism destination. But Nepal has not tapped it yet unfortunately, he further added.

Chairman of the program Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Hon. Sudan Kirati said that the federal government was industrious to operate Gautam Buddha International Airport, Bhairahawa to promote tourism in the Greater Lumbini Area.

Chief Minister of Lumbini Province Hon. Dilli Chaudhari said that the incomplete Buddhist circuit had hampered Buddhist pilgrimage tourism in the GLA. He also demanded to declare Rupandehi, Kapilavastu and Nawalparasi district as peace zone with the federal government. He also opined Lumbini Development Trust to bring under the aegis of the provincial government.  

The Vice Chairman of LDT Ven. Metteyya Sakyputta said that Lumbini, the holy birthplace of the Buddha, is shrine of faith for millions of Buddhist worldwide. It should be developed with greater priority to glorify its significance, he added.

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal His Excellency Mr. Chen Song and UNDP Resident Reprehensive to Nepal Ayshanie Medagangoda-Labé also addressed the Buddha Jayanti celebration program. The program was conducted by Member Secretary Sanuraja Sakya.

 

On the occasion, four dignitaries were honored. Ven. Dhammawati Guruma, Senior Archaeologist Basant Bidari, Buddhist scholar Dunda Bahadur Bajracharya and Hotelier Govinda Gyawali were honored for their outstanding contribution in their fields.

The formal program of the celebration was followed by a cultural program in which Patachara, a beautiful play on the life story of the Buddha was staged in the presence of Minister Sudan Kirati.

Lumbini was illuminated with lights for three days and Paritrana was chanted during Buddha Jayanti. A large number of devotees from Nepal and abroad attended the celebration program.

Ramagrama Relic Procession

The first Ramagrama Relic Procession was organized jointly by Lumbini Development Trust and Ramagrama Municipality on May 5, 2023. The Buddha's relic mounted on a special chariot was taken from Panditpur to Ramagrama.

Prime Minister Prachanda assured that his government would work for the development of Ramagrama Stupa and its surroundings. He opined that Ramagrama was the single stupa of its kind survived today which contained the original relic of the Buddha in it.

The Mayor of Ramagrama Municipality Dhanpat Yadav said that Ramagrama was overshadowed as the government had emphasized only Lumbini.

The program was attended by State Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Hon. Sushila Sripali, Vice Chairman of LDT Ven. Metteyya, and other dignitaries.

Baby Buddha Procession and Maternity Celebration Program

The Baby Buddha Procession from Lumbini to Kapilavastu was organized on May 6, 2023 to commemorate the birth of prince Siddhartha at Lumbini garden and his return to Kapilavastu palace. The image of Baby Buddha handed over by Member Secretary Sanuraja Sakya to Chief District Officer of Kapilavastu Shankar Hari Acharya at Mayadevi Temple premises. The image was taken to Tilaurakot with music bands and chanting in a special procession.

The procession was converted into a Maternity Celebration program after getting to Tilaurakot. Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Hon. Beduram Bhasal, the Chief Guest of the program opined for a balanced development of all Buddhist sites located at Rupandehi, Kapilavastu and Nawalparasi districts. The minister also urged for a separate master of Kapilvastu historic sites.

Mayor of Kapilavastu municipality Sudip Paudel said, "It is a pity that Buddha Jayanti is celebrated with a great pump in Lumbini while Kapilavastu is ignored by the government and Lumbini Development Trust."  

Local political leaders including MP Hon. Rupa BK, Former Minister Deep Kumar Upadhyaya, Member of Province Assembly Sudhakar Pandey demanded for Kapilavastu Development Trust to develop the historic sites of Kapilavastu region parallel.  The program was also addressed by LDT Board Members Ram Naresh Kohar and Gopikrishna Sharma. The program was attended by Treasurer Dhundiraj Bhattarai, Member Secretary Sanuraja Sakya, Board Member Netra Shahi, Bishwaraj Paudel, and Dhanaraj Kandel.

Devadahasutta Chanted at Devadaha

Lumbini Development Trust and Devadaha Municipality jointly organized Devadahasutta Chanting program on May 4, 2023. The monks and nuns and lay people chanted the sutta which glorifies the significance of the Devadaha, the maternal hometown of the Buddha's duo mothers Mayadevi and Prajapati his consort Yasodhara.

Historic sites including Kanyamai, Bairmai, Bhawanipur were cleaned and illuminated with lights on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti.