Kathmandu: India and Nepal are “seriously working together” to link Lumbini, birth place of Lord Budhha, with Bodh Gaya where he is said to have gained enlightenment, as part of promoting a combined Buddhist pilgrimage circuit.
“We are seriously working towards linking the two Buddhist circuits, Nepalese and Indian Buddhist circuits,” Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae said today.
“We need to work out plans on how to link Lumbini with Bodh Gaya of India so as to promote a combined Buddhist pilgrimage circuit,” Rae said while attending “Nepal-India Friendship and Economic Cooperation” programme organised by Nepal India Forum for Peace and Development in Kathmandu.
Dinesh Bhattarai, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala's Foreign Affairs Advisor, said that a stable and democratic Nepal stands as a more trustworthy and reliable neighbour to act as a stabilising force for regional peace and the world at large.
“Nepal and India have vital interests in each other's democracy, wellbeing and independence generating a plentiful of goodwill and the two countries deserve cooperation for mutual benefits,” said Bhattarai.
“The idea is to link the two Buddhist circuits so that Buddhist pilgrims visiting either Nepal or India can enjoy a total Buddhist package in an integrated way,” said Rae.
A stable and democratic Nepal stands as a more trustworthy and reliable neighbour to act as a stabilising force for regional peace and the world at large, said Bhattarai.
“Democracy has taken strong roots in India and despite its huge population and ethnic diversity democracy has survived in India, and I want to see democracy flourish in Nepal in the same manner as in India,” Bhishma Narayan Singh, former governor of Odisha and Tamil Nadu said.
“After the promulgation of the new Constitution, Nepal will be the most prosperous country in this region,” he said.
