Stolen Buddha statue reinstalled at original shrine in Kathmandu
The artifact, which had been taken abroad and later found in the Tibbethouse Collection in New York, United States, was officially repatriated to Nepal on March 2, 2022.
KATHMANDU: A stolen ancient stone Buddha statue of significant religious and archaeological value has been reinstalled at its original shrine in Nhuche Baha (Bajradathu Vihar), Om Bahal, Ward No. 23 of Kathmandu.
The artifact, which had been taken abroad and later found in the Tibbethouse Collection in New York, United States, was officially repatriated to Nepal on March 2, 2022 (Falgun 18, 2078 BS).
Following its return, the Department of Archaeology, along with heritage campaigners, handed it over to the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, after which it was preserved at the National Museum.
On April 30 (Baisakh 17), Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol, Ward Chairperson and Metropolitan Law Committee Coordinator Macha Raja Maharjan, and officials from relevant heritage bodies visited the museum to coordinate its relocation back to the community shrine.
The statue was formally transferred to the traditional caretakers (guthiyars) of Nhuche Baha following legal procedures under Section 20(a) of the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 2013.
It was then kept temporarily at the Hanuman Dhoka care office before being ceremonially reinstated at its original seat on Buddha Jayanti (Baisakh 18) {May 1}.
Officials and heritage advocates present during the process described the restoration as a strong example of cooperation between local government, communities, and cultural institutions in protecting heritage.
Ward Chair Maharjan said the return of the statue would strengthen the cultural identity of the locality, while National Museum Chief Arun Karki (Aruna Nakarmi) highlighted it as a model of collaborative conservation practice.
Heritage activists also expressed renewed motivation to continue repatriating stolen artifacts.
This marks the third major heritage object restored to its original site by the metropolitan city, following the earlier reinstatement of the Kumari House torana and the Mahagauri-Parvati idol at Guthi Surya Mahadev temple premises.
