Preparation for Kapilavastu Sculpture Workshop in Sagarahawa

Lumbini, December 26, 2023: In the sacred groves of Sagrahawa, preparations for the Kapilavastu National Sculpture Workshop are underway, scheduled to take place from the 23rd of Poush to the 8th of Magh. The workshop is a collaborative effort of Lumbini Development Trust and various organizations, including Kapilavastu Municipality, aimed at highlighting the archaeological significance of the Sagrahawa region and promoting tourism through sculpture art.

In a meeting held on Tuesday, with the participation of Members of Parliament from the province, local representatives, and coordinators of the Kapilavastu National Sculpture Workshop subcommittee, decisions were made regarding the workshop's schedule. Addressing the meeting, a member of the Lumbini Provincial Assembly and former minister, Vishnu Panthi, emphasized the historical and archaeological importance of Sagrahawa, indicating that the sculpture workshop would contribute to its development.

Gautam Buddha spent 29 years in the Tilaurakot area, including the seven important Buddhist sites, conveying the significance of Kapilavastu's development. He also highlighted the collaboration between Lumbini Development Trust, the province, and local governments for the preservation of archaeological sites in Sagrahawa.

The Treasurer of LDT and coordinator of the Sculpture Workshop Committee, Siddhicharan Bhattarai (Dhundiraj), expressed the importance of Sagrahawa's historical and archaeological sites. He mentioned that the committee is actively searching for local involvement to carry out the workshop successfully.

The Mayor of Kapilavastu Municipality, Sudip Poudel, and Ward Chairman of Ward No. 9, Deepak Thapa, assured support from the local government for the completion of the sculpture workshop. Experts in the committee, including the coordinator of the Arts Committee, Pom Narayan Poudel, and journalists Gunakar Gaire and Bhesraj Pandey, highlighted the historical significance of Sagrahawa in attracting and entertaining tourists.

The committee approved the list of subcommittees in the meeting and urged the formation of local-level subcommittees by January 15. The committee will reconvene on January 22 to present the action plan, and a press conference will be held on the same day. Tilaurakot Chief and Secretary of the Sculpture Workshop Secretariat, Madhav Prasad Acharya, provided additional information about the progress of the workshop preparations.

Sagrahawa, known as the place where the Sakyas of Kapilavastu retaliated against their enemies during the Buddha's lifetime, is recognized for its historical importance. Dr. Fuhrer conducted extensive excavations in Sagrahawa on behalf of the Nepalese government in 1897, revealing four stupas in cardinal directions, 17 large stupas, and artifacts such as bones, gold, silver, crystal, and more from the main stupa.