Mayadevi temple redesign and reconstruction unacceptable

LUMBINI, Sep 25:Local organizations have expressed opposition to the plan of redesigning and reconstructing the Mayadevi temple in Lumbini, Buddha's birthplace.

Lumbini Development Trust's newly appointed vice president. Following his assuming, the Larkyal Lama declared that he would personally donate 7 million rupees to the redesign and renovation of the Mayadevi temple.

However, the Lumbini Save Struggle Committee has stated that remodeling and reconstructing the historic Mayadevi temple is not acceptable.

The Chairman of the Struggle Committee, Ram Bikash Choudhary, released a press release accusing the trust's local board member, Bishwaraj Poudel, of relinquishing responsibility because he disagreed with the redesign and reconstruction discussion.

"We are concerned about the various decisions made since Dr. Lharkyal Lama, a controversial figure, was appointed vice president of Lumbini Development Trust, despite Lumbini residents' concerns." "We are forced to protest because the Lumbini Development Trust, led by him, has made one decision after another that has harmed the faith of Lumbini residents," the statement added. Although the four-member secretariat meeting of the Lama-led trust made the fateful decision to establish the Lumbini Development Trust's liaison office in Kathmandu on 11 August 2023, we are grateful that it was not implemented due to local residents' opposition and suggestions, but we are not satisfied with redesigning the Mayadevi temple, the center of our faith.

The message warned that the decision to remove Paudel, the only board member who represented the Lumbini people, would not be tolerated, and that if the decision was not resolved promptly, a phased protest would be started.