PM Oli inaugurates 2569th Buddha Jayanti & Lumbini Day celebrations (photos)

KATHMANDU: The main ceremony marking the 2569th birth anniversary of Lord Gautam Buddha and Lumbini Day commenced formally on Monday morning at the International Buddhist Assembly Hall in Lumbini.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli inaugurated the event, which witnessed the presence of Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Pandey, Chief Minister of Lumbini Province Chet Narayan Acharya, federal and provincial lawmakers, diplomats from various countries, Buddhist monks, devotees, and members of the public.

In the lead-up to the main celebration, Lumbini has been hosting various cultural, religious, and spiritual programs since Sunday.

Additional events are scheduled to continue until Tuesday in key Buddhist heritage sites including Tilaurakot (Kapilvastu), Devdaha (Rupandehi), and Ramgram (West Nawalparasi).

Prior to the formal ceremony, a grand peace procession was held from the Maya Devi Temple premises to the Assembly Hall, symbolizing a global message of peace and non-violence.

According to the Lumbini Development Trust, a budget of Rs 10 million was allocated for organizing this year’s Buddha Jayanti celebrations.