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Important Events held in Lumbini                                                 Other Important Events held in Lumbini >>

Lumbini Development Trust in collaboration with His Majesty's Government and other organizations has organized various seminars at local, national as well international level in the past. Such event have addresses issues, among others, such as need to involve local population's participation in development activities, interpretation of the Asokan Pillar Inscription, employment generation for the local people, role  of youth and communities.Below is a summary of two major events that took place in Lumbini.

First World Buddhist Summit, Nov 30-Dec 2, 1998

With the support from the Government of Nepal, Lumbini Development Trust organized the World Buddhist Summit in Lumbini, Nepal, from Nov. 30 through Dec.2 1998. It was a historical event for the people of Nepal and the Buddhists the world over. In order to successfully convene the event a Main Organizing Committee was formed under the chairmanship of the then Rt. Hon'ble Prime Minister Mr. Girija Prasad Koirala. A Main Preparatory Committee was also formed under Mr. Purna Bahadur Khadaka, the then Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture and Chairman, LDT.

The Main Preparatory Committee decided the theme of the Summit as Lumbini the Foundation of world Peace

Two main theme papers by two prominent scholars – Dr. Ananda W.P. Guruge from Sri Lanka (paper entitled Buddhist Philosophy and World Peace) and Dr. Harka Gurung from Nepal (paper entitled Developing Lumbini as Pilgrimage Center of Peace) were presented for deliberation in the Summit. Buddhist monks, nuns, scholars, academicians, representatives from world bodies, Buddhist organizations, and representatives from world bodies, Buddhist organizations and individuals interested in peace and development of Lumbini and Buddhism took active part in the three day deliberation. His (Late) Majesty King Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev  most graciously inaugurated the three-day Summit amidst hundreds of Nepali and foreign delegates and thousand of devotees.

The main achievements of the Summit can be summarized as follows:
         The Lumbini Declaration which expressed firm commitment of all the participants to contribute in the development of Lumbini and other sites related to the life of Lord Buddha  situated in Nepal like Kapilavastu, Devadaha and Ramagama,

·          Commitment for construction of an international airport, establishment of Buddhist University and

·          Adoption of a proposal to establish Lumbini as the Fountain of World Peace and Holies Pilgrimage Shrine for all the Buddhists and peace loving people of the world, among others.

·          Realization of the need for an autonomous status of LDT. 

The Summit also emphasized the need to involve the local people and their culture in the development process of the sacred complex so as to make them partners of progress.
The then Prime Minister Mr. Girija Prasad Koirala instructed the National Planning Commission to prepare blue print for the development of infrastructure in the settlement near the holy complexes of Lumbini. Consequently, rapid surveys were conducted to this effect.]

The Lumbini Declaration of Dec.1998 is the most important historic document highlighting the concern and commitments of the delegates from many countries for the development of Lumbini in the shortest possible span of time. It also emphasized on establishing the Lumbini International Buddhist University in Lumbini. Thus the World Buddhist Summit was the first International Buddhist Summit organized by HMG/ Nepal. The LDT and HMG/ Nepal are committed to fulfill the recommendations of the Lumbini Declaration.

International Buddhist Conference, 2001
In February 2001 LDT organized the international Buddhist Conference in the sacred complex of Lumbini. The theme of the Conference was: Lumbini in the New Millennium: The Role of Youth and Community.

LDT constituted a 213-member Main Organizing Committee under the chairmanship of Hon'ble Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Mr. Ram Krishna Tamrakar. Similarly, 14 Subcommittees were also formed to successfully convene the event held at the sacred site of Lumbini. The Conference was inaugurated by Rt. Hon'ble rime Minister Mr. Girija Prasad Koirala.

The following two theme papers were written and presented by two prominent personalities:

1.      Lumbini in the New Millennium: The Role of Community by Dr. Mohan Man Sainju  and
   Lumbini in the New Millennium: Youth in Buddhism by Ven. Bhikkhu Sugandha Mahasthavira

 Prominent personalities, among many others from different countries, such as Mr. Sunao Miyabara Senior Vice-chairman of World Fellowship of Buddhist (WFB, Hawaii, USA), Dato Khoo Leong (Malaysia), Tilake Attanayaka (Chairman, Lumbini Development Committee, Sri Lanka), Dago Sangye Wangchuk (Bhutan), John D. Hughes (Australia), attended the two-day Conference.

The Conference issued a 14-point Declaration. 

The Second World Buddhist Summit, 2004

HMG had decided to hold the Second World Buddhist Summit in the year 2000. But due to some unavoidable situation in the country, the Summit had to be postponed. Consequently, HMG and LDT decided to hold the postponed Summit this year (Nov. 30-Dec.2, 2004)

Main objectives of the Summit

1. 1.      To familiarize Lumbini, the Fountain of World Peace and the sacred birthplace of Lord Buddha as a symbol of unity, fraternity, peace and prosperity.

2. 2.      To develop Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, the apostle of Peace, as a Peace City.

3. 3.      To make attempts to elicit international cooperation and involvement to complete the activities outlined by the Lumbini Master plan in a phase-wise and time-bound manner.

4. 4.      To emphasize the indispensability of peace in order to make Lumbini and the teachings of the Buddha meaningful in generating the feeling of fraternity, non-violence, friendship and peace in the context of the present world which is gripped in the cycles of violence, death, tension and arms race.

5. 5.      To give priority to the involvement of local people in the conservation, preservation, development and management of historical, religious and archeological sites located in the Buddhist circuit and to emphasize the implementation of result oriented and successful programmes.

6. 6.      To promote the holy sites through adequate publicity and develop them as unique tourist destinations.

7. 7.      To acquaint the national and international participants of honor with the infrastructure development activities undertaken in Lumbini.

As a preliminary step toward the successful convening of the Summit, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MOCTCA) in collaboration with LDT constituted a seven member Task Force to look into the physical infrastructure and other activities to be undertaken and completed before the Summit. The team consists of the following persons:

1.      Mr.Tirtha Man Shakya, former Chief Secretary, HMG Coordinator

2.      Mr.Loke Darshan Bajracharya, former Chairman, LDT Member

3.      Dipendra PurushDhakal, former Secretary, HMG Member

4.      Dr.Chet Bahadur Kunwar,former Secretary, Royal Palace Member

5.      Mr. Ratan Man Shakya, Executive Committee Member LDT Member

6.      Mr. Man Mohan Bhattarai, politician and social worker Member

7.      Mr. Mohan Krishna Shrestha, Under Secretary, MoFA Member  

The theme of the Summit is: Lumbini – A Symbol of Unity in Diversity – The Foundation of World Peace. Three theme papers by three prominen individuals have been prepared for the Summit:

1.      Lumbini Development and International Cooperation by Mr. Sunao Miyabara

2.      Indispensability of Peace in the Present World Context by Ven. Sugandha Mahasthavira          

3.      Developing Lumbini as a World Peace City by Mr. Karna Shakya