LUMBINI: The 2569th birth anniversary of Lord Gautam Buddha is being observed today with great reverence and fanfare across Nepal, particularly in Lumbini, the sacred birthplace of the Buddha.
Celebrated annually on the full moon day of Baisakh, Buddha Jayanti marks the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and Mahaparinirvana — all believed to have occurred on this day.
A special commemorative program is being held at the International Buddhist Conference and Meditation Center in Lumbini, with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli attending as the chief guest.
According to Dhundiraj Bhattarai, Treasurer of the Lumbini Development Trust, the event will also host Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Badri Prasad Pandey, along with other federal and provincial ministers, Lumbini Province officials, Chief Ministers, foreign diplomats, and international guests.
The Lumbini Development Trust has organized a three-day celebration titled Buddha Jayanti and Lumbini Day 2082, featuring cultural and spiritual programs centered on the life and teachings of Lord Buddha. Events are being held not only in Lumbini but also in historically significant sites such as Tilaurakot, Ramgram, Kudan, and Devdaha.
Vice-Chairman of the Trust, Dr. Lharkyal Lama, emphasized the global significance of Buddha Jayanti and underlined the importance of good governance for the development of Lumbini. “This occasion is a source of pride for Nepal and the entire world,” he said.
A highlight of the celebrations was the Mahaparitra Path, a sacred recitation held overnight at the Mayadevi Temple on Sunday evening. Prior to the main event, a peace prayer and a colorful procession involving monks, nuns, lamas, and devotees took place earlier today.
The festivities will continue with the traditional Bodhisattva Siddhartha Procession on Tuesday. In this symbolic event, a statue representing the newborn Prince Siddhartha is carried from Lumbini to Tilaurakot in Kapilvastu along Mayadevi Marg, offering a spiritual journey into the Buddha’s early life and the conditions of his time.
Buddha Jayanti is observed not only by Buddhists but also by people of various faiths in Nepal and around the world, honoring the values of peace, compassion, and enlightenment taught by the Buddha.
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