World Peace flame campaign begins at Lumbini

BHAIRAHAWA, May 16: The world peace flame, which will be lighted at the start of the annual 'Everest Marathon' on Everest Day (May 29), has been sent from Lumbini, Buddha's birthplace, to the Everest base camp today.

Himalaya Expedition, the Everest Marathon organizer, held a ceremony at Lumbini and presented the 'Jyoti of Shanti Deep' to Baikuntha Manandhar, South Asia's record marathon runner, through Bhikkhu Maitreya, the spiritual adviser of Lumbini Development Trust.

In the event, Buddhist monks recited the Buddhist scriptures and the 'peace flame' was lit in torch and handed over to Himalayan Expedition founder and President Bikram Pandey. He said that this journey from Lord Buddha's birthplace Lumbini to Mount Everest has given a new identity to this region.