Lumbini hosting special programs today to mark Buddha Jayanti

LUMBINI, May 23: Today is the 2568th Budhda Janaynti or Lumbini Day. To mark the occasion, a special ceremony is taking place in Buddha's birthplace, Lumbini, in the presence of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal today. 

Noting that Budhda Jayanti is a common celebration of all the people and is not limited to the Buddhist community, vice-chairperson of the Lumbini Development Trust (LDT), Lharkyal Lama, expressed his commitment to develop the holy Lumbini. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha, LDT Chairman and Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Hit Bahadur Tamang, Lumbini Province Chief Minister Jokh Bahadur Mahara, high officials, heads of diplomatic missions and officials are scheduled to visit Lumbini to attend the special ceremony. 

LDT treasurer and coordinator of the publicity management sub-committee, Dhundiraj Bhattarai, said various programs would be organized in Lumbini, Ramgram, Kapilvastu and Devdaha.

A cultural program was organized in partnership with the Indian Embassy on Wednesday evening. 

Mahaparitran recitation has been done at the Maya Devi temple since last evening. This morning, a prayer meeting and procession was held with the participation of international monks and nuns. 

LDT Treasurer Bhattarai told RSS that a tri-nation motorcycle rally (Nepal, India and Sri Lanka) is scheduled to take place from Lumbuni today itself.