Locals in Kapilvastu district have demanded the government hold the venue for the 2,560th International Buddhist Conference in Lumbini—the birth place of Lord Buddha. The government had announced to organise the event on May 19 and 20 in the Capital.

“It will help promote Kapilvastu, Nawalparasi and Devdaha as the foreigners and scholars would be visiting Lumbini during the conference,” said former coordinator of local peace committee Gyanu Paudel.

In a recent interaction programme organised by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation in Lumbini, speakers demanded that the two-day International Buddhist Conference be staged in Lumbini to promote the Buddha’s birthplace.   

Chairman of Siddhartha-nagar Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ram Kumar Sharma said holding the conference in Lumbini would also highlight the significance of Nawalparasi, Kapilvastu and Devdaha. 

Hundreds of guests from various countries, including academicians, are expected at the conference. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ananda Prasad Pokharel had announced that the event would be held on May 19 and 20 in Kathmandu, followed by a Buddha Jayanti celebrations on May 21 in Lumbini.