03rd India-Nepal Cultural Festival held in Lumbini Focusing on Buddhism.

Lumbini; December 2025: Senior Indian official Munu Mahawar, Additional Secretary (North), Ministry of External Affairs, India on Monday – 08th December evening have attended the 03rd India – Nepal Cultural festival in Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha.

The third edition of the cultural festival organised by the Embassy of India in Nepal, in collaboration with the Lumbini Development Trust and Lumbini Buddhist University, focused on Buddhism. Munu Mahawar, Additional Secretary (North), Ministry of External Affairs, India said while addressing the event.

“Our two countries share not only close civilisational and cultural ties but also a shared reverence for lord Buddha and his teachings. Lord Buddha was born in the sacred city of Lumbini and he

delivered his first sermon in Sarnath. His life and journey formed an enduring and

unparalleled bond between our two countries that add to the

unique relationship between India and Nepal“,

The one-day festival celebrates the rich cultural heritage and traditions of both India and Nepal, with a special focus on Buddhism. The event was jointly inaugurated by Krishna Bahadur Gharti Magar, Governor of Lumbini Province; Senior Indian Official Munu Mahawar, Dr. Lharkyal Lama, Vice Chairman of Lumbini Development Trust, and Dr. Rakesh Pandey, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India in Kathmandu.

“Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji visited Lumbini in 2022 and he emphasised during that visit the importance of developing this shared heritage together. During that visit Prime Minister Modi and

the then Prime Minister of Nepal laid the foundation stone of India International Center for

Buddhist Culture and Heritage in Lumbini. I had the opportunity to visit the project site today.

It was really satisfying to see that lot of work already has been completed and we are now

nearing to the full completion of this important structure which will become

symbol of our friendship and partnership“,

The event featured a cultural program, with performances by renowned artists from both India and Nepal. An Odissi dance recital with a Buddhist theme was presented by a six-member ICCR troupe led by Sandhya Kunjan Menon Das. The evening also included traditional musical performance by a Nepali band ‘Ghugu Mugu’.

As a part of this festival, an academic seminar titled “India – Nepal Buddhist Heritage: A common Legacy” was organised at the Lumbini Buddhist University in the forenoon of Monday. The seminar brought together eminent Buddhist scholars from India and Nepal, who shared their insights on the significance of Buddhist heritage in strengthening cultural ties and fostering people-to-people

connections between the two countries.

The event underscored the strong cultural and historical bonds between the two nations.

Team Maverick.