KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has called for the global promotion of Buddha’s teachings of non-violence and peace at a time when conflict and hatred are on the rise.
Inaugurating the 4th Asian Buddhist Cultural Festival in Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, Prime Minister Oli highlighted that the world needs to draw inspiration from the path of peace shown by Gautam Buddha to counter the current threats to global stability.
“In a time when the clouds of war are looming and sophisticated weapons have been developed that can attack from water, land, and air, peace cannot be established through war and violence,” Prime Minister Oli said.
He expressed confidence that the festival would convey a positive message of world peace by promoting Asian Buddhist culture, heritage, art, literature, history, research, and dialogue.
Highlighting Nepal’s role in spreading the values of non-violence, humanity, and compassion taught by Gautam Buddha, Prime Minister Oli urged the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation to arrange a suitable space in Lumbini for educational programs, meditation, and philosophical discussions related to Buddhism.
The three-day festival will see the presentation of 40 working papers on Buddhist culture, Chinese culture, traditional Buddhist medicine, and Buddhist education.
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Pandey, Chief Minister of Lumbini Province Chet Narayan Acharya, and other dignitaries attended the event.
Representatives from 40 countries are participating in the festival, which is being organized by the Lumbini Development Fund, Sariputra Foundation Nepal, and the Chinese Culture Promotion Society with the aim of promoting Buddhist philosophy, culture, and global peace.
The festival is chaired by Lyarkal Lama, Vice-Chairman of the Lumbini Development Fund.
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