Lucknow: Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the shared heritage, culture and faith as the “biggest capital” of India-Nepal ties and said on Monday that the growing friendship and closeness of the two in the current global situation will serve the benefit of the entire humanity. Prime Minister Modi, who arrived here on a one-day visit to Nepal, was addressing a program organized on Buddha Jayanti at Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha. Describing Lord Buddha as the “incarnation of the collective realization of humanity”, Modi said that he is both a ‘bodhi’ and also a ‘research’. He also described Buddha as a thought and a sacrament.

The Prime Minister said, “Common heritage, common culture and common faith and shared love are our greatest asset. The richer this capital is, the more effectively we will be able to convey the message of Lord Buddha to the world… we can give direction to the world.” He further said, “In the kind of global conditions that are being created today, the ever-increasing friendship of India and Nepal, our closeness, will serve the benefit of entire humanity. Faith in Lord Buddha binds us in a thread. Makes a family a member.”

PM Modi offers prayers at Maya Devi temple
Before attending the event, on reaching Lumbini, Prime Minister Modi first offered prayers at the Maya Devi temple located here on the occasion of Buddha Purnima. Prime Minister Modi was accompanied by his Nepalese counterpart Sher Bahadur Deuba on a visit to this historic temple located in Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha. After this, Modi and Deuba laid the foundation stone for the construction of India International Center for Buddhist Culture and Heritage (India International Center for Buddhist Culture and Heritage) in Lumbini Buddhist Vihara area.

Once the construction work is completed, it will become a center with world-class facilities and devotees and tourists from all over the world will be able to enjoy the spiritual aspects of Buddhism. The International Buddhist Culture and Heritage Center is being built by the International Buddhist Confederation in India in collaboration with the Lumbini Development Trust.

Lumbini, located in the Terai plains of Nepal, is one of the holiest sites of Buddhism. Later, Prime Minister Modi also held bilateral talks with Deuba. This is Prime Minister Modi’s fifth visit to Nepal since 2014. Modi and his delegation arrived here from Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh in a special helicopter of the Indian Air Force.