Indian PM Modi to participate in prayer at Mayadevi Temple, Lumbini

By TRN Online, Kathmandu, May 12: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in prayer at the Mayadevi Temple in Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha in Nepal.

During his official visit to Nepal, fifth as the Prime Minister of India, Modi will also attend the special ceremony on the auspicious occasion of Buddha Jayanti in Lumbini.

Issuing a press release on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Indian PM Modi will pay an official visit on May 16 at the invitation of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

At the invitation of the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba, His Excellency Shri Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, will pay an official visit to Lumbini, Nepal, on 16 May 2022. The Prime Minister of India will attend the special ceremony on the auspicious occasion of Buddha Jayanti in Lumbini, read the MoFA press release.

The Prime Minister of India together with the Prime Minister of Nepal will participate in a prayer at the Mayadevi Temple, lay the foundation stone for the construction of a centre for Buddhist culture and heritage at the Monastic Zone in Lumbini, and address the special ceremony to be organized to celebrate Buddha Jayanti at the Lumbini International Buddhist Meditation Center and Assembly Hall, according to the MoFA.

Dr. Narayan Khadka, Minister for Foreign Affairs, will call on Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi.

"While in Lumbini, the two Prime Ministers will hold bilateral talks and exchange views on Nepal-India cooperation and matters of mutual interests. The Prime Minister of Nepal will host a luncheon in honour of the Prime Minister of India and the visiting delegation".

The MoFA said that the upcoming visit of the Prime Minister of India will contribute to further strengthening the bilateral relations and the age-old socio-cultural bonds between the two countries.