The Embassy of Bharat in Nepal, in partnership with Lumbini Development Trust and Lumbini Buddhist University, hosted the first Bharat-Nepal Cultural Festival in Lumbini. This event aimed to showcase the rich cultural heritage and traditions of both Bharat and Nepal, with a particular focus on Buddhism. The festival featured various attractions, including a Sand Mandala Drawing Art Exhibition by monk artists from Hemis Monastery in Ladakh, India, a photo exhibition by renowned photographer Benoy Behl, a street food festival offering Bharat and Nepali cuisines, and a cultural program.
The festival’s opening ceremony took place on Saturday and was jointly inaugurated by Ambassador of Bharat to Nepal Naveen Srivastava, Nepal’s Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Sudan Kirati, and Chief Minister of Lumbini Province Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary. The inauguration included the opening of a photo exhibition displaying stunning photographs of Buddhist heritage sites, providing a comprehensive view of Buddhism’s monuments and art heritage.
Ambassador Srivastava, Minister Kirati, and Chief Minister Chaudhary also jointly inaugurated the Sand Mandala Drawing Art Exhibition, showcasing the traditional Buddhist art form of creating intricate designs using colored sand. The evening of December 8 featured a lively cultural program with performances by artists from Bharat and Nepal, including the Cham Dance, Bharatnatyam, Tharu Dance, and a Sitar recital.
The festival continued with a street food festival at the Lumbini World Peace and Harmony Visitor Centre, offering a diverse array of Indian and Nepali cuisine. Notable dishes included Pakora, Tharu-style Taruwa, Sabudana Wada, Newari-style lentils, Bara, Jalebi, and more. An academic seminar titled “Exploring the Impact of Buddhist Teachings on Community Development and Global Well-Being” took place at Lumbini Buddhist University on December 8, where eminent Buddhist scholars from Bharat and Nepal shared insights on the relevance of Buddhist teachings in the modern world.
This cultural festival is planned to be an annual event in Lumbini, fostering connections between people from Bharat and Nepal to celebrate shared heritage, traditions, and culture. The festival emphasized the strong cultural and historical ties between the two countries, and the Sand Mandala and photo exhibitions remained open to visitors on the second day of the festival, December 9, 2023.
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