Nepal Tourism Board, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Nepal, Lumbini Development Trust (LDT), Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC), and Province Sports Council Nepal, have joined hands to organize the Lumbini International Peace Festival from April 5-6. The event is being co-organized by Nepal Overseas Chinese Association (NOCA), Zhong Hua Monastery in Lumbini, and Lumbini Hotel Association.
The event is composed of three major programs: Lumbini International Peace Marathon, Lumbini International Meditation Day, and Lumbini Peace Concert. The event focuses on promoting and positioning Lumbini globally as a “world peace and culture tourism destination”. The event is also expected in furthering the goodwill and warm people to people relations between Nepal and China.
Lumbini, the Birthplace of Lord Buddha, is a sacred pilgrimage site and one of the top tourism destination for visitors to Nepal. It is known throughout the world as a “Fountain of Peace and Buddhism”. Siddhartha, the Shakya Prince who later attained Enlightenment, was born in the Sacred Garden of the Maya Devi Temple of Lumbini is 623 BC. The Buddha has inspired man since the last 25 thousand years. Therefore, nothing could be more relevant than a life of mindfulness, simplicity and middle path shown by the Buddha in these times of the post pandemic world.
The event is expected to promote the essence of peace for humanity in addition to the tourism promotion. The center of the 2-day event will be the premises of LDT around the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Lumbini International Meditation Day is scheduled for early morning April 5 at the Sacred Garden with 100 monks, nuns and 400 practitioners.
Talk program will be held on the evening of April 5 to commemorate the “International Day of Sport for Development and Peace” which falls during the time. The Lumbini International Peace Marathon scheduled early morning on April 6 will start and finish at Lumbini Square. The marathon will be in the following categories: the Marathon (M), Half Marathon (F), 5K Open (M+F), School (B+G) including Walkathon. Ancient sports programs like archery, wrestling etc will also be held and demonstrated at the time.
Cash prizes will be awarded to the: first 10 male full marathon winners, first 3 female half marathon winners, and first 3 winners among students and general public both male and female. Total cash prize for the marathon is 1.9 million.
The Lumbini Peace Concert at the Lumbini Square Theatre, a semi-moon shaped outdoor theatre outside the Royal Thai Monastery, is scheduled for April 6. World renowned singer Ani Choying Drolma, well-known Chinese singer Ulan Tuya, Guqin artist Lu Ning and traditional musicians from Lumbini will be performing at the program.
The event will be promoted globally to highlight Lumbini and its core value of peace and culture. The event will be promoted in China by the Embassy of PRC in Nepal. Similarly, it will be hosting international and national marathon runners, Chinese delegates, diplomats, artists, singers, province and national Government officials, tourism fraternity. The program is supported by Lumbini Buddhist University, Yunnan Mountaineering and Outdoor Sports Association and Tourism Development Council, Lumbini Province, and Greenroad.
