KATHMANDU, JUN 26 -
The final master plan to develop Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, as the World Peace City (Lumbini Vishwa Shanti Nagrama) was unveiled in Kathmandu on Wednesday.
The plan dedicates 16,000 acres land, basing the Mayadevi Temple as the
centre, which is to be turned into the global hub for peace, and the
heartland of Buddhism. The main attraction of the plan is its
lotus-shaped design. The design is inspired by the Buddha’s teaching
that associates the flower’s ability to bloom in muddy waters to
enlightenment, where the mud is likened to a materialistic world full of
sufferings and the blossom to the state of enlightenment.
Within this design, three zones will be separated, each bearing their
own significance: the inner core will be developed as the Buddha Zone,
the mid-section as Dharma zone, and outer area as Sangha Zone—the three
gems of Buddhism. Combined together, these three zones will form the
“Peace and Harmony Districts”.
Addressing the master plan unveiling programme, Kwaak Young Hoon, the
project designer, said the difficult task of coming up with the design
was achieved by crystallising various advices collected from the experts
and local people of Lumbini.
“Now we have to think of the way to ensure the world peace by making Lumbini a peace city,” he said.
Hoon added that the plan accommodates the religious, socio-cultural,
historical, archeological, environmental, educational, and spiritual
significance of Buddhism.
Minister for Culture Bhim Acharya said the government and the ministry
have been engaging themselves to formulate the most effective way to
implement the master plan.
“Lumbini is the property of the world. We need both national and
international partners to bring this project to fruition,” he said.
The plan also proposes developing Lumbini as the centre for Buddhist learning, and a city inhabitated by world citizens.
The Korean International Cooperation Agency has spent around $ 2 million for the
project.
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