Lumbini to be developed as a gateway to the Greater Circuit of Asian Buddhist Pilgrimage

By Ramesh Tiwari —

Kathmandu : International Buddhist Conference has agreed to establish Lumbini as a gateway to the Greater Circuit of Asian Buddhist Pilgrimage by connecting Lumbini (Nepal) with other great Buddhist Centres and heritage sites of other countries.

“We agree to establish Lumbini as a gateway to the Greater Circuit of Asian Buddhist Pilgrimage by connecting Lumbini (Nepal) with Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar (India), and other great Buddhist Centres and heritage sites in other countries, such as Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China and Pakistan,” reads the Lumbini declaration .

The conference stressed on  implementation of the Lumbini Development Master Plan designed by Japanese architect Kenzo Tange in 1978.

The conference, organised with the theme ‘Lumbini Nepal: The birthplace of Lord Buddha and the fountain of Buddhism and world peace’ concluded on April 29 with a 10-point Lumbini Declaration 2018.

The declaration announced that an integrated management plan would be created to safeguard the archaeological cultural and natural heritage of the Greater Lumbini area.

“We agree to safeguard the environment within the Greater Lumbini Area, and monitor and control sources of all forms of pollution, and to create an international centre for peace and conflict resolution in Lumbini,” reads the declaration.

The conference focused on the great relevance of Buddha’s teachings of the middle path as a sustainable future for humanity today as it faces unprecedented global challenges such as ecological crisis, climate change , poverty,  exploitation and violence in the world.

Buddhist scholars, religious leaders, monks, nuns and other stakeholders from 23 countries participated in the conference.

Addressing the conference Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said that the government was committed to develop Lumbini as an attractive destination.

“Lumbini is not only the religious, tourism site, but also the centre of knowledge and meditation.”

Earlier, President Bidya Devi Bhandari laid the foundation stone of the Lumbini International Buddhist Meditation Center and Assembly Hall to be constructed in Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, amidst a ceremony there.

April 30,2018