Indo-Nepal Cultural Festival Celebrates Buddhist Heritage in Lumbini
Indo-Nepal Cultual Festival
The second edition of the Indo-Nepal Cultural Festival, organised by the Indian Embassy in Nepal, was held on Saturday in Lumbini, the birthplace of the founder of Buddhism, Gautama Buddha. The festival featured several events, including cultural programmes presented by Indian and Nepali artists and an academic seminar on the shared Buddhist cultural heritage of the two countries.
"The Embassy of India in Nepal, in collaboration with the Lumbini Development Trust and Lumbini Buddhist University, organized the second edition of the India-Nepal Cultural Festival at Lumbini on 8 December 2024," the Indian Embassy in Nepal said in a press release. "
Heritage and traditions Celebrated
The festival celebrated the rich cultural heritage and traditions of both India and Nepal, with a special focus on Buddhism. The event was jointly inaugurated by Lumbini Province Governor Krishna Bahadur Gharti Magar, and Lumbini Province Minister of Industry, Tourism and Transport Management Prachanda Bikram Nepane. Lumbini Province's Minister of Social Development Janmejaya Timilsina; Dr. Lharkayal Lama, Vice President, Lumbini Development Trust, and Prasanna Srivastava, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India, Kathmandu.
Event was attended by Prominent Dignitaries
The event was attended by prominent dignitaries including members of the provincial assembly, the mayor of Butwal sub-metropolis, chief district officer of Rupandehi, senior superintendent of Nepal Police and Armed Police Force, as well as members of civil society and senior monks as well as members of the council and staff of the Lumbini Development Trust.
On the evening of December 8, a cultural programme was organised, in which renowned artists from both India and Nepal performed. The highlight of the event was a Kathak dance recital based on Buddhism, which was presented by an eight-member Indian troupe led by Shikha Sharma. The demonstration was supported by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), New Delhi. The evening also witnessed a traditional Nepali dance performance by Swajan Raghuvanshi and his group, the release said.
Academic Seminar Organized
As a part of this celebration, an academic seminar titled "Buddhist Cultural Heritage of India and Nepal" was organized at Lumbini Buddhist University on the morning of 8th December. The seminar brought together eminent Buddhist scholars from India and Nepal who shared their valuable views on the cultural and historical significance of Buddhist heritage in both countries. On the same morning, Shikha Sharma, an exponent of Kathak dance, and her troupe interacted with the students at Shri Ram Naresh Yadav Adarsh Model Secondary School, Rohini-3, Rupandehi, Butwal and introduced them to the art of Kathak dance.
Rich Heritage of Indian Classical Dance
The school building was constructed as a High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) with financial assistance from the Government of India. The interaction fostered the rich heritage of Indian classical dance and inspired a deep appreciation for Indian art forms among the young students of the school.
As part of the festival, Kathak dance troupes from India will also perform in Kathmandu and Pokhara, the release said. The aim of this cultural festival is to strengthen the age-old, unique and close ties between India and Nepal, as well as to further promote people-to-people ties. The event underscored the strong cultural and historical ties between the two countries.
[Agency]