Lumbini-Kapilvastu Day Blog

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How’s Buddhism spreading in Africa?

Posted by Ram Kumar Shrestha on June 15, 2013

By Rev. ILukpitiye Pannasekara Nayaka Thero

Buddhism came to other countries few years ago by different Buddhist teachers from different countries. They have established it properly and continue up to now.

But, very recently it came to Africa not more than 100 years history of Buddhism. It is very new, but, many countries like as Tanzania, Botswana, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi and South Africa have many Buddhist temples, organizations, centers and academic studies. Therefore after looking way back we can have some happy progress in future.

Among those countries Tanzania, Botswana, Kenya, Uganda and Malawi have one Buddhist temple in each country.
But, South Africa is having more Buddhist centers, temples and organizations which teach different kinds of Buddhist practices.

Especially University of South Africa (UNISA) (www.unisa.ac.za) is having some Buddhist studies up to Doctorate Degree studies under the religious studies. And also at University of Botswana (www.ub.bw) teach distance and internal Buddhist studies. Therefore it is better to open our Buddhist view about Buddhism in Africa. Read the rest of this entry »

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HUYEN SANG’S TRAVEL TO LUMBINI: A DESCRIPTION

Posted by Ram Kumar Shrestha on June 1, 2013

greater-lumbini

To the north-east of the arrow well about 80-90 li, we came to Lumbini (Lavani) garden.  Here is the bathing tank of the Sakyas, the water of which is bright and clear as a mirror, and the surface covered with a mixture of flowers.

To the north of this 24 or 25 paces there is an Asoka-flower tree, which is now decayed: this is the place where Bodhisattva was born on the eighth day of the second half of the same month, corresponding to the fifteenth day of the third month with us.  East from this is a stupa built by Asoka-raja, on the spot where the two dragons bathed the body of the prince.  When Bodhisattva was born, he walked without assistance in the direction of the four quarters, seven paces in each direction, and said, “I am the only lord in heaven and earth; from this time forth my births are finished.“  Where his feet had trod there sprang up great lotus flowers.  Moreover, two dragons sprang forth, and, fixed in the air, poured down the one a cold and the other a warm water stream from his mouth, to wash the prince.  Read the rest of this entry »

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NAV Excellence Award 2013: Movement Activists Overwhelmed

Posted by Ram Kumar Shrestha on May 17, 2013

Lumbini-Kapilvastu Day Movement activists this year overwhelmed after NAV Excellence Award 2013 announcement as its Global Coordinator, Solangture (one of its Directors Raju Shakya is in Lumbini Promotion International Committee), Nepali Sanchar Media (its Managing Director Promod K. Soni in Lumbini-Kapilvastu Day Movement Victoria Committee), Sahitya Sangeet Jamaghat (some active members of this Jamaghat Anupam Sayar, Sabin Thapa and Ramjee Poudel are in Lumbini-Kapilvastu Day Movement Victoria Committee), United Football Club (one of the most active members of the club Mahesh K. Shrestha is the Vice president of Geelong Nepalese Association that played active role in this year Pako Festa) were awarded and Miss Nepal Australia 2012 Deepashree Shah, who played active role in this year Pako Festa got appreciation for her active role in community activities. NAV Excellence Award 2013 winner Rohan Khanal topped this year VCE with score 99.4%.

Award to Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre for its Commendable Service to Nepalese Community

Nepalese Association of Victoria (NAV), on behalf of Nepalese Community in Victoria, has successfully concluded a year round program with presentation of the NAV Excellence Award 2013 in an event on 12th May 2013 at Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury, Victoria, Australia. The event was packed with cultural program and Gala Dinner serving Nepalese traditional food.

The Gala Dinner and the Award presentation event was presented by Nepalese Association of Victoria (NAV) and managed by Solangture. Read the rest of this entry »

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Buddha Day: Let’s Go Federation Square

Posted by Ram Kumar Shrestha on May 16, 2013

weblogo500x500

Buddha’s Day and Multicultural Festival is a truly unique annual event which celebrates Melbourne’s diverse multicultural society. Running over two days (on 18th and 19th of this month), the Buddha’s Day and Multicultural Festival begins in the heart of Melbourne, at Federation Square. Let’s show our solidarity to this Grand Program on 19/05/2013 as we are from the country where Buddha was born. Read the rest of this entry »

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2557th Buddha Jayanti Celebration Preparation in Sydney

Posted by Ram Kumar Shrestha on May 13, 2013

“Buddha Was Born In Nepal”

Buddha Jayanti 2013
Aim:
1. To celebrate Buddha (our Rastriya Bibhuti) Jayanti in one place by bringing together Nepali communities to spread Gautam Buddha’s message of “Peace & Harmony”.
2. Buddha Jayanti Organising Committee to oversee the entire organisation of the event, free entry to the event and have an open platform where interested communities can be accommodated until the event day
3. Event is to be purely volunteer based, free of commercial and political influence
Venue: Marrickville Town Hall, 303 Marrickville Road
Date: 25 May 2013 (Saturday)
Time: 10:00am to 2:00pm Read the rest of this entry »

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Time ripe for signing a new Nepal-China Treaty of Peace and Friendship

Posted by Ram Kumar Shrestha on May 6, 2013

news_579416435[Nepal initiated an important proposal since 1993 that Buddha should be declared as "Light of the Universe" in place of 'Light of Asia' only. Dr. Bishnu Hari Nepal, former Vigya Member, Foreign Policy Draft Sub-committee, Legislative Parliament of Nepal, is strongly advocating it in the international level. International Relations and Human Rights Committee of the dissolved Legislative Parliament of Nepal had unanimously passed the vision making it a part of the campaign of the Nepalese Foreign Policy. This article is based on that concept.]
obama-walkx-largeProfessor Dr. Bishnu Hari Nepal
Buddha: The light of Universe

After going through the book, as a normal reader, I got an impression that Nepal that time, through her Great Son of the Soil, Buddha —the enlightened one, was able to contribute a great and influential philosophy with its impact on the pattern of life of the people -to our today’s great neighbors India and China in particular, Asia and the world in general. I remember the kind words from the great Buddhist philosopher of the 21st century, poet laureate of Japan, global peace initiator and President of Soka Gakai International (SGI) Daisaku Ikeda during our meeting in 1995 in Tokyo, “Japan was indebted to Nepal for their present culture, civilization, way of life, behavioral patterns, and thinking and even to the visionary approaches”. He had also added that it was through the flow of Buddhism -the enlightenment of the ancient Himalayan civilization. In response, I had said, “It is now — just the reverse- you are promoting peace and philosophy of Buddhism from the Far East to the West”. He had laughed.

To my satisfaction now Nepal China Society has done a credible job adding a brick in enhancing Nepal’s deep cultural ties with China and the world. Japan’s case, Buddhism started perhaps only from the sixth century via China and Korea.

On the contrary, the case of China, Buddhism entered to this country crossing the mighty Himalayas, through the Silk Road. The authors in this book argue that this was during the 1st or 2nd century CE. As a normal materialist Nepali thinker of the 21 st century, it gives me a sense of great pride and inspiration, and also impression to be looking for a second child of Buddha’s and Araniko’s repute for the 21st century Nepal. Specially, on the political grounds, today’s Nepal badly needs it!

For me Buddhism is a philosophy directly related to the way of life of the people. As a matter of fact, it was a materialist theory, alternative to the then existing religions. But during the course of time, Buddha being too much popular by his deeds, people started regarding Buddha himself as God and Buddhism as a religion. Hindus also took the opportunity and made him the incarnation of Vishnu! I do not believe in such superstitions. I believe in the strong scientific fact of explorations that he was the Prince of Lumbini-Kapilvastu of Nepal. But I respect the beliefs of the people. Read the rest of this entry »

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Nepalese presenter sets talk show world record

Posted by Ram Kumar Shrestha on April 14, 2013

Nepal-G1KATHMANDU : A Nepalese presenter has set the world record for the longest television talk show by staying on air for 62 hours and 12 minutes, organisers said Sunday.

Rabi Lamichhane, a 36-year-old based in the US, returned to Kathmandu to  stage the “Lord Buddha Was Born in Nepal” programme, which took the Guinness  world record late Saturday night.

Our campaign was aimed to spread the message to the world that the Buddha  was born in Nepal,” said Anil Joshi, Chairman of News24, the television station  broadcasting the program told AFP, adding that the programme promoted tourism  destinations such as Mount Everest.

One hundred guests, ranging from former Maoist rebel leader Pushpa Kamal  Dahal, to the Indian ambassador to Nepal, to Nepalese television celebrities  and common people joined Lamichhane during the programme.

Lamichhane’s performance broke the record previously held by Pavlo Kuzheyev  and Tetiana Danylenko for a 52-hour broadcast to celebrate the twentieth  anniversary of Ukraine’s independence in 2011.

According to Guinness World Records rules, Lamichhane was allowed five  minutes every hour for a break.

Organizers said he ate some meals while interviewing guests, banked several  of the slots for a longer rest period and otherwise survived on energy drinks. Read the rest of this entry »

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An Interview with Dr. Kavitaram Shrestha

Posted by Ram Kumar Shrestha on April 2, 2013

Name: Dr Kavitaram Shresthadr-kavitaram-shrestha-233x300
DOB: 07/05/1948
Place of Birth: Ram Bazar, Okhaldhunga, Nepal
Recent Country/Place: Nepal
Books published: 34
 
Organizational Involvement:
Director, National/International Relations: Kist Medical Collage, Imadol-6, Lalitpur, Nepal
Visiting Professor: International HealthDepartment of Public Health, University of – AberdeenMedical School, Polwarth Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK
Chairman: Consulting Associates for Research and Training Services (CARTS); Anamnagar, Kathmandu-32, Nepal
Principal: PreciousNationalCollege, Maihpi, Kathmandu

Awards/Rewards: Innovation Award, Sajha Bal Sahitya Puraskar BS 2058 (2001 AD, Mahendra Vidya Bhushan Feb. 1998, The Youth of the Year 2051 (1994), AsiaAfrica Solidarity Award Oct. 1994, Six Best National Film Festival Awards Wining Producer/Director in 1991, The Best Character Actor of the Year 91,� The Best Feature Film Storywriter of the Year ’91, Writer of The Best Children’s Book of the Year ’92, The Best Children’s Book Writer for the International Children’s Year ’82-’83

You are raising the issue in Kapilvastu Movement Day. Why actually you think this movement is required?

A false message is prevalent around the world that Buddha was an Indian Prince. The reality that Buddha was born in Lumbini under the Shakyas regime Kpilvastu, that falls in Modern Nepal is fully under shameful shadow. The fact that Lord Buddha was born in Lumbini was proven by King Ashok 23 hundred years ago as he positioned a stone pillar in Lumbini with an inscription highlighting that it was the birthplace of Lord Buddha. The marker pillar is still standing in Lumbini within the sovereign land of Nepal. The Indian Government has never opposed officially this fact. But it promotes the false impression that Buddha was an Indian Prince, with the evident fact that some part of the Kapilvastu lies in Indian soil and later part of Lord Buddha was spent in various areas that fall in modern India. Whole of the world is kept away deliberately from the fact that Lord Buddha in fact was a prince of Nepalese Soil and the irony is that the Nepalese authority never attempted to prove it for fear that it might lead to conflict with Mighty India. They simply escape taking a vain excuse that the self proving stone pillar is luminously standing in Nepalese soil and it does not need to be pointed out. Actually it is our privileged pride that Buddha was born in our gratifying soil and we can boast for it. It would nevertheless be an act of minimization to any in the world. How could it be taken as a confrontation with India or any in the world? Why are our officials so much scared? Or, are there any other reasons to be so shamefully quiet? In this odd and shameful situation the pride of Nepalese intellectuals around the world arose pronouncing loud that Buddha was born in Nepalese soil and burst out to celebrate the Kapilvastu Day on December 1 in 2008. December 1 is the glorified day when German Archeologist Anton F. had defined the Ashokan Pillar as a marker pillar of Lord Buddha’s birth place for the first time in 1935. After this Kapilvastu Day is celebrated every year worldwide and carried varieties of successful promotional activities around the whole year. This movement has now become an esteem symbol of the pride of nationalism among Nepalese intellectuals. In fact, it is needed extremely to work as a catalist for boosting the pride of nationalism in depressed Nepalese mind. Read the rest of this entry »

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Vote to promote Nepal as the country of the Buddha and the Mt. Everest

Posted by Ram Kumar Shrestha on March 28, 2013

BB2013-PCA-vote

Dear friends,

Including this blog 1122 blogs are entered into the Best Australian Blogs 2013 Competition and now this is the time for People’s Choice Award, so now this is your time to vote! It will take you less than a minute and would earn you MASSIVE brownie points and actual brownies if you’d like! This is another small attempt to promote Nepal as the country of the Buddha and the Mt. Everest.

Process to vote:

  1. Please click here 
  2. Select this blog. For this click “VOTE HERE” button. This blog is listed as Nepal – the country of the Buddha and the Mt. Everest on the (almost) bottom of the third page, and then you just need to include your details and done! It’s open until the 30th of April, but why not to do right now? Continue to press Next until you press Done

Or directly you can click here select this blog. It’s listed as Nepal – the country of the Buddha and the Mt. Everest .

I would like to thank you all for your time and contribution in this mission!!!

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Bill Clinton Turns To The Art Of Buddhist Meditation

Posted by Ram Kumar Shrestha on March 22, 2013

clintonFormer American president Bill Clinton has taken his exercise regime to spiritual heights – by learning the art of Buddhist meditation to help him relax.

The politician, 65, has recently taken up a healthier life-style including becoming vegan after a string of heart problems over the years.

And in his latest bid to improve his well-being, the Democrat has hired his own personal Buddhist monk to help him learn how to meditate properly.

Radaronline quoted a source as saying: ‘Ever since his heart scare, Bill has looked for ways to help him relax.

‘He has a hectic life, he travels a lot on business as an ambassador for the U.S. and needs something to keep him sane.

‘Meditation offers him that, he has a mantra that he likes to chant and after every session he feels transformed and full of positive energy.

‘It’s definitely doing him the world of good – he feels fitter and stronger than ever.’

In February 2004, Clinton was rushed to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City after complaining of chest pains.

He needed to have two coronary stents implanted in his heart and a few months later in September underwent quadruple bypass surgery. Read the rest of this entry »

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Chris Demuth Advocates “Buddha was born in Nepal”

Posted by Ram Kumar Shrestha on March 15, 2013

Chris Demuth talks about Fareed Zakaria’s book The Post-American World where Zakaria is giving absolutely wrong information on Buddha’s birthplace and Mr Demuth advocates not buying the book as it does lie. He was surprised with India’s claim that Buddha was born in India.  Mr Demuth also suggests signing the petition to advocate Buddha was born in Nepal and not in India.

zakaria-book1Fareed Rafiq Zakaria is an Indian-American journalist and author. From 2000 to 2010, he was a columnist for Newsweek and editor of Newsweek International. In 2010 he became editor-at-large of Time. He is the host of CNN‘s Fareed Zakaria GPS. He is also a frequent commentator and author about issues related to international relations, trade, and American foreign policy.

Zakaria is the author of few books including The Post-American World. His last two books have both been New York Times bestsellers, and have been translated into over 25 languages.

Fareed Zakaria opened up about his plagiarism scandal in an interview with the New York Times.  He got into severe trouble after he was found to have lifted a paragraph from a recent New Yorker article for a column in Time. He was suspended from that magazine and from CNN.

Read the rest of this entry »

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Buddha was born in Nepal: A Guinness World Record Attempt of Longest Marathon Television Talk Show

Posted by Ram Kumar Shrestha on March 12, 2013

 

To sign the petition please click here

We are not going to prove that Buddha was born in Nepal. It is already proved. We just want to dismiss the misinformation and protect human rights of world tourists who actually want to go to Lumbini, Nepal – the birthplace of The Buddha – but going to the wrong place either due to the misinformation or bad intention. Participating in the petition, hence, is very important and help the petition by inviting and requesting your friends to sign.

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Participating in Best Australian Blogs 2013 Competition

Posted by Ram Kumar Shrestha on March 9, 2013

Dear all,

BB2013_NomineeThis blog (www.ramkshrestha.wordpress.com) and 
http://nepaleseg.blogspot.com.au
 (this one competing as new blog)
 are participating in the “Best Australian Blogs 2013  Competition” . The People’s Choice round will launch on Thursday 28 March 2013. Please be ready to start click-voting on these blogs from 28 April 2013 at 5 pm (Sydney local time). The voting doesn’t open until 28 March. When it does, I will let you know with instructions, including a link to the voting form. Among few blogs I chose this one as more regular visitors from all over the world in this blog and there are direct links to go to Lumbini-Kapilvastu Day Movement blog and Complete Nepal blog in the side bars. This is another small attempt to promote Nepal as the country of the Buddha and the Mt. Everest.

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World cyclist Saurab Dahal promoting Nepal as the country of the Buddha and Mt. Everest

Posted by Ram Kumar Shrestha on February 25, 2013

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Nepal was promoted in Pako Festa, Australia

Posted by Ram Kumar Shrestha on February 23, 2013

Parade

23 February 2013 Geelong, Australia: Geelong, the second biggest city of Victoria in Australia, transformed into a multicultural melting pot as thousands flocked to the thirty-first annual Pako Festa. It incorporated an extravagant street parade featuring around ninety floats and hundreds of performers representing forty-five affiliated ethnic communities and around sixty other community groups and organizations. The street was lined with stalls selling traditional foods and arts and crafts, and nine separate stages in the precinct offer performances of music and dance as well as interactive workshops and exhibitions. Pako Festa has become Victoria’s premier multicultural event, attended by well over hundred thousand people in each of the last three years and estimated to inject close to $2.5 million dollars into the local economy just over the course of the day itself.

Parade2

Because of very nominal Nepalese in Geelong, Lumbini-Kapilvastu Day Movement Global Coordinator Mr. Ram Kumar Shrestha requested other Nepalese communities living in other cities to use Pako Festa as opportunity to promote Nepal as the country of the Buddha and the Mt. Everest. His idea was for Nepal to take advantage of this big gathering from different counties to try to dismiss misinformation of Buddha’s birthplace. Nepalese Association of Victoria President Bom Yonjan, Nepali Sanchar Managing Director Pramod K Soni and Namaste Nepal News Chief Editor Sabin Thapa, Geelong Nepalese Association and Lumbini-Kapilvastu Day Movement Victoria Committee were active for necessary input and mobilized community members to participate in the festival to promote Nepal as the country of the Buddha and the Mt. Everest. Nepalese communities promoted Nepal through flags, banners, Nepali music, dance, Nepali dress and stalls. Miss Nepal Australia 2012 Deepashree Shah represented our country with a Kumari dance.

Read the rest of this entry »

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Facebook Upshot: Google Mistakes Again

Posted by Ram Kumar Shrestha on February 14, 2013

Few years ago Google was showing Buddha’s birth place in India, but after our pressure it corrected its mistake

Google Corrected its Mistake (Breaking News)

Now it is doing another mistake showing Nepal’s land within India. Watch this video

गुगल म्याप्को गम्भीर गल्ति??? हरेक नेपाली ले जान्नु पर्ने !! सक्दो सेयर गरिदिनु होला !!
==========================================
गुगलले नेपाल बारे गम्भीर गल्ति गरेको छ गुगल म्याप्ले हाम्रो भूमिलाई पनि भारतमा देखाई दिएको छ। Click Here to Watch >>>
http://scotnepal.blogspot.com/2013/02/blog-post_3022.html

==========================================
PLS SHARE/COMMENTS

Chronology of Lumbini-related Events

Posted by Ram Kumar Shrestha on February 4, 2013

623 BC – 1899 AD | 1900 – 1969 | 1970 – 1979 | 1980 – 1989 | 1990 – 1999 | After 2000

623 BC – 1899 AD

  • 623 BC: Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who later becomes Buddha, is born in Lumbini.
  • 249 BC: Emperor Asoka visits Lumbini and erects the Asoka Pillar with Pali language inscriptions in the Brahmi script to pay homage to Buddha’s birthplace.
  • 350- 375 AD: Chinese Monk Sengtsai belonging to the Chin Dynasty visits Lumbini for pilgrimage and writes accounts of his visit.
  • 399-413 AD: Chinese traveller Fa-hsien visits Lumbini and describes the place where Buddha’s mother, Queen Mayadevi, gave birth to Prince Siddharta and where the newborn was bathed.
  • 636 AD: Chinese traveller Hsuan-tsang visits Lumbini. He describes Lumbini as “a deserted place, and wild animals roamed around enough to warn off travellers.”
  • 1312 AD: Ripu Malla, King of the Malla Kingdom of Kathmandu, visits Lumbini. He is the last visitor to leave evidence of his visit prior to the site remaining in oblivion for centuries.
  • 1896: General Khadga Shamsher, Governor of Tansen, organizes an expedition together with German archaeologist Anton Fuhrer. The Asoka Pillar, which marks Buddha’s birthplace, is re-discovered.
  • 1899: Excavation by Purna Chandra Mukherji discovers the main piece of the Nativity Sculpture. Two additional pieces of the sculpture are found and joined together some 85 years later by Tara Nanda Misra.

    1900 – 1969 Read the rest of this entry »

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Einstein on Buddhism

Posted by Ram Kumar Shrestha on February 3, 2013

Einstein

[Albert Einstein (14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the general theory of relativity, one of the two pillars of modern physics (alongside quantum mechanics). While best known for his mass–energy equivalence formula E = mc2 (which has been dubbed "the world's most famous equation"), he received the 1921Nobel Prize in Physics "for his services to theoretical physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect". The latter was pivotal in establishing quantum theory.

Near the beginning of his career, Einstein thought that Newtonian mechanics was no longer enough to reconcile the laws of classical mechanicswith the laws of the electromagnetic field. This led to the development of his special theory of relativity. He realized, however, that the principle of relativity could also be extended to gravitational fields, and with his subsequent theory of gravitation in 1916, he published a paper on the general theory of relativity. He continued to deal with problems of statistical mechanics and quantum theory, which led to his explanations of particle theoryand the motion of molecules. He also investigated the thermal properties of light which laid the foundation of the photon theory of light. In 1917, Einstein applied the general theory of relativity to model the structure of the universe as a whole.

Great scientist Einstein's writings on religion are also very important and this is one of his small piece on Buddhism.]

“Buddhism has the characteristics of what would be expected in a cosmic religion for the future: It transcends a personal God, avoids dogmas and theology; it covers both the natural and spiritual; and it is based on a religious sense aspiring from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual, as a meaningful unity.

“If there is any religion that would cope with modern scientific needs it would be Buddhism. Read the rest of this entry »

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US $ 77 million Gautam Buddha Int’l Airport to be built

Posted by Ram Kumar Shrestha on February 3, 2013

SAMIKSHA KOIRALA

airport-gautam-buddhaKATHMANDU, Jun 26:Upgrading Gautam Buddha Airport (GBA) at Lumbini, which the government plans to develop into a regional international airport, will cost more than double what the Asian Development Bank (ADB) had earlier assessed, according to the latest detailed study commissioned by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal(CAAN).

“The new assessment done by a Korea-based consulting firm shows that the cost of completion of the first phase upgradation alone will hover around US $ 77 million. This is higher than the earlier estimate by US $ 42 million,” said a senior official at CAAN.

A previous study carried out by the ADB four years ago had put the total cost of first phase upgradation at around US $ 35 million.

Based on that assessment, the government had secured a soft loan of around US $ 38 million under the South Asia Tourism Infrastructure Development Project of ADB. As per the agreement, the Nepal government has to bear 15 percent of the total cost.

The latest estimate has rattled the CAAN – the civil aviation regulator – and it has turned to the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to arrange additional funds.

“We have sent a letter to MoF requesting it to arrange additional resources in the coming budget or initiate a dialogue with the ADB for raising the assistance amount,” Tri Ratna Manandhar, director general of CAAN, told Republica.  Read the rest of this entry »

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How Meditation May Change the Brain

Posted by Ram Kumar Shrestha on January 28, 2013

By SINDYA N. BHANOO
Getty Images

Over the December holidays, my husband went on a 10-day silent meditation retreat. Not my idea of fun, but he came back rejuvenated and energetic.

He said the experience was so transformational that he has committed to meditating for two hours daily, one hour in the morning and one in the evening, until the end of March. He’s running an experiment to determine whether and how meditation actually improves the quality of his life.

I’ll admit I’m a skeptic.

But now, scientists say that meditators like my husband may be benefiting from changes in their brains. The researchers report that those who meditated for about 30 minutes a day for eight weeks had measurable changes in gray-matter density in parts of the brain associated with memory, sense of self, empathy and stress. The findings will appear in the Jan. 30 issue of Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging. Read the rest of this entry »

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Nepalese Participating in Pako Festa – the Biggest of its kind in Australia

Posted by Ram Kumar Shrestha on January 24, 2013

Lumbini

pakologosmapNepalese Community is going to participate first time in Pako Festa that will held on 23rd of February, 2013. Different organizations from Melbourne and Ballarat will join the festival and Lumbini-Kapilvastu Day Movement effort will to introduce Nepal as the birthplace of Buddha. In the festival Miss Nepal Australia, 2012 Deepashree Shah will perform Kumari dance.

Pako Festa, now in its  thirty-first year, is Geelong’s much loved, award-winning, free,  annual community arts festival – the biggest of its kind in Australia. Managed by Diversitat and held on the last weekend of February in Pakington Street, Geelong West, “the multicultural heart of Geelong”, it incorporates an extravagant street parade featuring around ninety floats and hundreds of performers representing forty-five affiliated ethnic communities and around sixty other community groups and organisations. The street is lined with stalls selling traditional foods and arts and crafts, and nine separate stages in the precinct offer performances of music and dance as well as interactive workshops and exhibitions. Pako Festa has become Victoria’s premier multicultural event, attended by well over 100,000 people in each of the last three years and estimated to inject close to $2.5 million dollars into the local economy just over the course of the day itself. Read the rest of this entry »

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Kenzo Tange Master Plan for Lumbini

Posted by Ram Kumar Shrestha on January 17, 2013

 

When U Thant visited Nepal in April 1967 as Secretary-General of the United Nations, he proposed the development of Lumbini into a major centre of pilgrimage. This was followed by a UNDP consultant mission in December 1969, which led to a report that established the basis for further planning around Lumbini.

In 1970, the International Committee for the Development of Lumbini (ICDL) was set up comprising initially of 13 members and later expanded to 16 member states. The initial member states were Afghanistan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Later, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Republic of Korea also joined. At the national level, the Lumbini Development Committee was formed. ICDL initiated the preparation of the Master Plan for Lumbini, which was conceptualized by Kenzo Tange starting from 1972. The Kenzo Tange Master Plan was finalized and approved in 1978. Read the rest of this entry »

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Buddhist Sites in Greater Lumbini Area

Posted by Ram Kumar Shrestha on January 16, 2013

Buddhist Sites in Greater Lumbini Area

Kapilvastu

 

  • Tilaurakot: The ancient capital of the Shakya Kingdom, which was the kingdom of Buddha’s father, with remains of the fortification wall with gates and remains of the citadel; Prince Siddhartha lived here until 29 years of age; site in Tentative World Heritage List
  • Niglihawa: Birthplace of Kanakmuni, who was one of the four Buddhas of the Bhadrakalpa era (which is a long and immeasurable period of time of the sages, and it is also the present eon); site has a broken Asoka Pillar erected by Emperor Asoka in 249 BC
  • Aurorakot: Ruins of a rectangular fortified area; believed to be the natal town of Kanakmuni Buddha
  • Sagarhawa: A forest with a long lake known as Lumbusagar; thousands of Shakyas were massacred by King Virudhaka out of vengeance; ruins of hundreds of stupas built in their memory were excavated by German archaeologist Anton Fuhrer between 1897-1898
  • Gotihawa: Remains of an Asoka Pillar to mark Krakuchhanda’s birthplace; Krakuchhanda was also one of the four Buddhas of the Bhadrakalpa period
  • Kudan: Site where Buddha met his father, mother, wife and son for the first time after his renunciation; his son Rahul was ordained by Buddha’s most revered disciple
  • Sisahaniya: important archaeological site of the Maurya-Kushan era; believed to have an ancient Buddhist monastery and a fort Read the rest of this entry »

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Lumbini welcomed 758k tourists in 2012

Posted by Ram Kumar Shrestha on January 2, 2013

lumbini-visit-year-2012

BHAIRAHAWA: The number of tourists visiting the birth place of Lord Buddha during the Lumbini Visit Year 2012 grew by almost one-third compared to 2011, but still the arrivals fell short of the target set by the government by over 24 percent.

The government had announced that it would bring a total of one million tourists, both domestic and foreign, in Lumbini when it announced Lumbini Visit Year 2012 last year. But as the year ended on Monday, Lumbini Development Trust said a total of 758,269 tourists visited Lumbini in 2012.

The majority of tourists visiting Lumbini were domestic visitors. “Though we couldn´t achieve the target, the campaign proved instrumental in promoting the destination,” Hari Dhwoj Rai, information officer of Lumbini Development Trust, told Republica.

Lumbini welcomed tourists from 92 countries during the year, according to Rai. Read the rest of this entry »

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LUMBINI TOUR (Birth Place of Lord Buddha)

Posted by Ram Kumar Shrestha on January 2, 2013

Buddha

Lumbini is the birthplace of Lord Buddha. It is situated 300 km away from Kathmandu in Rubandehi District of Southern Terai (lowland), at an altitude of 600 ft. above sea level. Lumbini, respected by all Buddhists. In 1998, Lumbini was declared as the Fountain of world peace and the pilgrimage for all the peace loving people of the world. Lord Buddha was born in Lumbini in 6th century B.C. Lumbini is one of the popular tourist destination of Nepal. More than 400,000 people visit Lumbini every year. Taking this in consideration and to ensure that the benefit of tourism goes to the local community as well, rural tourism has been developed and promoted in the region.

The Lumbini Circuit Tour provides insight into the life of Lord Buddha and the development of Buddhism. There are 62 archaeological sites scattered outside the Lumbini Garden. The tour goes through Tilaurakot, Kudan, Gotihawa, Niglihawa, Sagarhawa, Aurorakot, Devadaha and Ramagrama all bearing significance to the life, enlightenment and death of Buddha.  Read the rest of this entry »

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