Lumbini Virat Chakra Vigyan and Spiritual Awakening Festival 2024 has concluded with the signing of a five-point Lumbini Resolution Paper 2024 on Saturday.
Top leaders of political parties in Nepal including Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' signed the resolution paper to develop Nepal as the center of world peace.
Signing the resolution paper included Prime Minister Prachanda, CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Lumbini Province Chief Amik Sherchan. Similarly, Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chairman Rajendra Lingden, CPN (UML) General Secretary and former Chief Minister of Lumbini Province, Shankar Pokharel, Chief Minister of Lumbini Province, Jokh Bahadur Mahara, former Chief Secretary Leela Mani Poudyal, among others signed the resolution paper to develop the Himalayan nation as the hub of world peace.
The resolution paper proposed by Devi Sharma, the chairman of the Institute of Life Sciences, states that Nepal, the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, can leverage its rich spiritual heritage to become a global center for peace. This will be achieved by overcoming social divisions based on caste, religion, and community. Through promoting dialogue and mediation, Nepal can help people realize their aspirations for peace and prosperity.
Meanwhile, the Lumbini International Peace Festival 2024 which began on Friday also came to an end with the Lumbini Peace Concert showcasing artists including nun and singer Ani Choying Drolma.
The two-day peace festival featured three key activities – Lumbini International Peace Marathon, Lumbini International Meditation Day, and the Lumbini Peace Concert.
Jointly organized by the Nepal Tourism Board, the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, the Lumbini Development Trust, the Nepal Olympic Committee, and the Province Sports Council, Lumbini with the aim of spreading the message of peace across the globe and promoting Lumbini as the destination for world peace, religious and cultural tourism, said the Chinese Embassy in Nepal.
Speaking later in the evening on Friday, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song underlined the need to hold more such events for the peace and development of the world.
"Let’s further deepen exchanges and cooperation between China and Nepal in the field of sports, hold more brand sports events, and give full play to the unique role of sports in promoting peace and development of the world," Ambassador Chen mentioned on X, formerly Twitter, after attending the Talk Program of International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.
The Lumbini International Meditation Day kicked off with the slogans 'Let's Call for UN to Declare International Meditation Day,' and 'Make Lumbini the Meditation Capital of Nepal,' at the Sacred Garden in Lumbini on Friday. Ancient sports programs like archery, wrestling etc. were demonstrated alongside short-distance marathons.
Similarly, Foreign Minister of Nepal, Narayan Kaji Shrestha said that this festival has the potential to play a role in fostering cultural exchanges and connections between the people of Nepal and China.
"This festival also could get initiative to further cultural and people-to-people exchanges. I am happy to share that during my recent visit to China, the agendas of major connectivity and people-to-people connections featured well in my conversation with the Chinese leadership," said Minister Shrestha.
People from various walks of life arriving from different countries around the globe took part in the meditation program.
(Photos: Chinese Embassy in Nepal)
