Nepal-India Cultural Festival Unveils Shared Heritage in Lumbini

The inaugural Nepal-India Cultural Festival kicked off in Lumbini yesterday 8th December 2023. This auspicious event was jointly organized by the Embassy of India in Nepal, the Lumbini Development Trust, and Lumbini Buddhist University, to showcase the rich cultural heritage and traditions shared by India and Nepal while emphasizing the importance of Buddhism.

The event featured several exhibitions, including a sand mandala drawing display by monk artists from Hemis Monastery in Ladakh, India; a photography exhibition curated by renowned photographer Benoy Behl; a street food festival highlighting Indian and Nepali cuisine; and a vibrant cultural program.

The festival was formally inaugurated by Mr. Naveen Srivastava, Ambassador of India to Nepal; Mr. Sudan Kirati, Honorable Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation; and Mr. Dilli Bahadur Chaudhary, Honorable Chief Minister of the Lumbini Province. The opening of the event also marked the inauguration of Mr. Behl's Buddhist heritage photo exhibition, which illustrated the long and storied history of Buddhism from its early beginnings through the modern era by displaying mesmerizing photos of sites across the Buddhist world.

Following the ribbon cutting, the honored guests jointly opened the sand mandala exhibition by the Hemis Monastery monks. This traditional Buddhist art form uses intricately designed and brightly colored sand to create complex mandala designs.

On the evening of the first day, a vibrant cultural program was held, featuring performances by artists from both India and Nepal. The audience was enthralled by a Cham Dance performed by artists from Thiksey Monastery in Leh, India; a Bharatnatyam dance choreographed by the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre of the Embassy; a Tharu tribal dance by local Lumbini artists; and a sitar musical performance by Nepal's Sukarma Band.

The cultural program was followed by a Street Food Festival at the Lumbini World Peace and Harmony Visitor Center. Attendees delighted in various Indian and Nepali dishes including Pakora fritters, Tharu-style Taruwa soup, Sabudana vada fritters, Newari-style lentil bara dumplings, jalebi sweets, and more.

Earlier in the opening day, an academic seminar titled “Exploring the Impact of Buddhist Teachings on Community Development and Global Well-Being” was held at Lumbini Buddhist University. Esteemed Buddhist scholars from both India and Nepal were in attendance, sharing insights on the contemporary relevance of Buddhist principles.

Events such as these help strengthen ties between India and Nepal by celebrating their shared cultural heritage and historical bonds. Over the festival’s second day today, visitors continued to enjoy the sand mandala art exhibition and photo exhibition.