UN marks Buddha Purnima

KATHMANDU, May 2: A special commemorative event was organized at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters on Tuesday on the occasion of the ‘Day of Vesak’ (Buddha Purnima), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal said in a press release on Wednesday.

Secretary-General of the United Nations, President of the General Assembly, and representatives of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Russian Federation, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam made statements on the occasion, highlighting the relevance of the Buddhist philosophy for peace and sustainability in the present context.

On the occasion, Chargé d’Affaires (CDA) of the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations, Nirmal Raj Kafle, said that Buddhism embodies the teachings of compassion, non-violence, tolerance, forgiveness and empathy.

He further said that the teachings of the Buddha are still significant as people in several areas continue to endure sufferings, due to conflicts, poverty, disasters, discrimination and deprivation.

Kafle said that Nepal is currently formulating a new Greater Lumbini Area Development Master Plan to preserve important cultural heritages. On the occasion, he also invited all to visit Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha.

In a separate event, Nepal participated in a daan (offering of food) ceremony at the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, and offered Nepali delicacies to the monks.

Following the adoption of the General Assembly resolution (A/RES/54/115) in 2000, of which Nepal was a leading cosponsor, the Vesak Day event is being organized at the UN Headquarters every year with Nepal among principal organizers. The event this year was co-hosted by Sri Lanka and Thailand.