3rd India–Nepal Festival celebrate shared Buddhism

Dec 09, 2025

Senior Indian official Munu Mahawar, Additional Secretary (North), Ministry of External Affairs, India on Monday evening attended the 3rd India-Nepal Cultural festival in Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha. The third edition of the cultural festival organized by the Embassy of India in Nepal, in collaboration with the Lumbini Development Trust and Lumbini Buddhist University, focused on Buddhism. 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 Lumbini Governor Krishna Bahadur Gharti Magar, Senior Indian Official Munu Mahawar, LDT Vice Chairman Dr. Lharkyal Lama, and Dr. Rakesh Pandey of the Indian Embassy. It saw enthusiastic participation from civil society members, academics, senior monks, and representatives of the Lumbini Development Trust. 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 organized at the Lumbini Buddhist University.