Local authorities in Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, are giving finishing touches to the venue where the third day of the International Buddhist Conference is to take place on Saturday to mark the 2560th Baisakh Purnima.
According to officials, this is the first time that the government of Nepal is organising a function in Lumbini to mark the occasion. Until last year, it was the Lumbini Development Trust that organised the event.
President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Ananda Prasad Pokharel and delegates attending the Buddhist Conference will be present during the main ceremony. Similarly, ambassadors from countries such as India, China, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Japan and Korea are expected to take part in the day’s event.
Lumbini Development Trust’s Secretary Ajitman Tamang says workers are giving finishing touches to the Lumbini area to welcome guests coming there to observe the holy day.
Local artisans are being used to build the stage on which the main event will be set. Authorities hope that the venue will be ready well ahead of time to welcome the guests.
The historical pond in Lumbini is also being cleaned for the occasion, so are other monuments in the area.
The International Buddhist Conference, which began on Thursaday, is set to issue a Lumbini Declaration after the event on Saturday.
