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Nepal to host two-day international Buddhist seminar

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Press Trust of India Kathmandu
Last Updated : May 18 2016 | 8:29 PM IST
Nepal will host an international Buddhist seminar from tomorrow to mark the 2,560th birth anniversary of Lord Buddha to be attended by about 1,000 delegates, including from India, aimed to position the country as the prime destination of Buddhist pilgrimage globally.
Around 400 international delegates, including 200 monks from 28 different countries will participate in the two-day seminar on Buddhism from May 19-20, which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
"Nepal is not only the birth land of Lord Buddha, the apostle of peace, but it is also the country, from where the philosophy originate, Buddhism originate more than two and a half millennium ago," said Minister for Tourism and Culture Ananda Prasad Pokharel, addressing a press briefing on the eve of the programme.
The seminar is aimed at positioning Nepal as the fountain of Buddhism in the world and to popularise the country as the prime destination of Buddhist pilgrimage, he said.
Some 1,000 representatives, including 400 foreign delegates are taking part in the conference.
Buddhist monks, scholars, government officials, tourism entrepreneurs and media persons from more than two dozen Buddhist countries including Bhutan, India, China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka are attending the conference.

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Some 300 Buddhist monks, including 200 foreign monks are taking part in the conference. Ministerial level delegation is arriving from Sri Lanka and Thailand to attend the seminar, according to the organisers.
From India, prominent Buddhist scholars and monks are attending the programme.
A special programme will be organised at Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha, situated 250 km south-west of Kathmandu on Saturday, coinciding with the 2,560th Buddha Jayanti.
President Bidya Devi Bhandari will be the chief guest on the occasion. Around 10,000 people are expected to arrive in Lumbini to mark the occasion.
During the event, the president will announce the winner of 'Lord Buddha Peace Prize' worth USD 50,000.

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First Published: May 18 2016 | 8:29 PM IST

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