Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sudan Kirati urged Buddhists across the globe to spearhead the campaign-‘Let’s go to Lumbini!’
Lumbini is the birth place of Lord Buddha who was born there in the 6th century BC.
Inaugurating the ‘Shanti Ghanti’ (Peace Bell) built by Korean religious leaders for peaceful Lumbini by ringing it on Tuesday, Minister Kirati expressed his confidence that the ‘Peace Bell’ would help spread the Buddha’s teachings and messages across the world.
Stating that Nepalis upheld the belief that the guests are Gods, Kirati appealed with all the participants in the inaugural to visit Lumbini with their families.
The Bell weighing 1.5 tonnes has been installed at Korea Nepal Friendship Peace Park. It was made by a team led by Korean Buddhist religious leader Sanmukh Heja.
The inaugural programme was organized by the Nepal Lumbini Development Trust and members of the 108 Buddha Society Pilgrims prayers groups.
The Minister viewed that the bell offered by the Korean monks h
ad further strengthened the Nepal-Korea’s selfless ties. “Korea has provided Nepalis employment opportunities while Nepalis are contributing Korea by giving them workers. Now the Korean citizens should support Nepal by publicizing Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha.”
Similarly, Trust’s Member Secretary Sanuraj Shakya reading out a message on the behalf of Dr Lharkyal Lama, Vice-Chairperson of Trust, extended gratitude to the team who brought the bell as well as the Korean Buddhists monks and followers.
Korean religious leader Heja expressed his confidence that the newly inaugurated bell would spread the message for world peace. “The ringing of the bells from the Buddha’s birthplace would give courage and strength to the seekers who have not reached the state of enlightenment and would give a voice of joy to the sufferings of the sentient beings.”
A memorial and the Korea Nepal Friendly Peace Park for praying for world peace was established in Lumbini under the leadership of religious leader Heja in 200
7.
Source: National News Agency – Nepal