Tourism Minister Ganesh Poudel Unveils Buddha Statue at Nepal Embassy in London

LONDON: Honourable Khadgaraj (Ganesh) Poudel, Nepal’s Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, has officially unveiled a statue of Lord Gautama Buddha at the Embassy of Nepal in London.

The unveiling took place during a special ‘Nepal Evening’ programme organised by the Nepalese Embassy. Honourable Manish Jha, a Member of the House of Representatives of Nepal, was also present at the event.

The installation of the Buddha statue at the Nepalese Embassy in London is regarded as an important step towards strengthening Nepal’s international identity as the birthplace of Lord Gautama Buddha and promoting the country’s rich Buddhist heritage.

Addressing the programme, Minister Poudel described Lord Gautama Buddha as Nepal’s global ambassador of peace and compassion. He appreciated the initiative to install the Buddha statue at the Embassy and highlighted the importance of such programmes in sharing Buddha’s universal message of peace, compassion and harmony with the international community.

Mr Bipin Duwadi, Acting Ambassador of Nepal to the United Kingdom, also praised the NRNA initiative and acknowledged the Association’s contribution to promoting Nepal’s Buddhist heritage and cultural identity at the international level.

The statue was installed through the initiative of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) International Coordination Council (ICC), in collaboration with the NRNA National Coordination Council UK (NCC UK) and the Buddha Foundation UK. The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) provided necessary support for transporting the Buddha statue from Nepal to the United Kingdom. The campaign represents a collaborative effort by various organisations to promote Nepal’s Buddhist heritage internationally.

Som Nath Sapkota, Spokesperson of the NRNA International Coordination Council and Chair of its Tourism Promotion Committee, led and coordinated the project.

According to Sapkota, the Buddha statue installed at the Nepalese Embassy in London is the first under NRNA’s global initiative. The Association is now advancing the necessary procedures to install additional Buddha statues at Nepalese embassies and diplomatic missions in different countries around the world.

Following the first installation at the Nepalese Embassy in the United Kingdom, plans are also underway to install a Buddha statue at the Embassy of Nepal in Portugal. Similarly, the process of identifying and establishing statues at other Nepalese diplomatic missions is progressing in coordination with NRNA, based on individual requirements and priorities.

To support the campaign, NRNA is mobilising internal resources, coordinating with sculptors for the production of statues, and engaging ICC office-bearers and various National Coordination Councils (NCCs). With the collective participation of NRNA leaders, NCCs, partner organisations and the wider Nepali diaspora, the Association has set a target of installing a total of 10 Buddha statues at Nepalese diplomatic missions worldwide.

As part of another related initiative, NRNA is also planning to install an additional 6.2-inch metal Buddha statue at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Australia, in collaboration with NRNA Australia.

The primary objective of this campaign is to promote Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Gautama Buddha, as an internationally recognised Buddhist pilgrimage destination and an important centre for spiritual tourism and cultural exchange. To achieve this, NRNA is working in collaboration with the Nepal Tourism Board and various local governments along the Buddhist Circuit to promote Nepal’s Buddhist heritage and develop spiritual tourism.

Alongside the unveiling of the Buddha statue, the ‘Nepal Evening’ programme at the Embassy also provided an important platform for strengthening tourism partnerships and business relations between Nepal and the United Kingdom. Organised in collaboration with the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), the programme included discussions with British tour operators and tourism professionals on bilateral tourism partnerships and future cooperation.

Presentations and destination promotion materials highlighted Nepal’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, adventure tourism, spiritual tourism and diverse tourism destinations. The programme also featured cultural performances showcasing Nepal’s traditional arts, culture and heritage.

A total of 32 tourism entrepreneurs and representatives from Nepal, along with tourism sector representatives from the United Kingdom and members of the Nepali diaspora, participated in the event. The programme provided an opportunity to showcase Nepal’s tourism potential and explore possibilities for expanding tourism, professional networks and long-term cooperation between the two countries.

With its global network spanning more than 90 countries, NRNA has been playing an important role in connecting Nepal with international tourism markets, cultural institutions, investors and business communities. Through its International Coordination Council, National Coordination Councils and various thematic committees, the Association continues to promote Nepal’s tourism, culture, heritage, investment opportunities and international partnerships. The Buddha statue installation campaign is an important example of mobilising this global network to strengthen Nepal’s cultural diplomacy and international identity.

The unveiling of the Buddha statue at the Nepalese Embassy in London marks a significant achievement in promoting Nepal’s cultural identity and strengthening diplomatic connections. It further reinforces the collective commitment of NRNA ICC, NRNA NCC UK, Buddha Foundation UK, Nepal Tourism Board, Nepalese diplomatic missions and Nepali communities around the world to share Lord Buddha’s universal message of peace, compassion and harmony with the global community.