UN Secretary-General Guterres reaches Lumbini

Kathmandu: The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has reached Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha.

Guterres reached Lumbini 2 hours late than the scheduled time. Buddhist abbots, monks, priests, nuns from the monasteries and the local mothers' groups, and various community groups including the indigenous Tharu and the hotel entrepreneurs at the Lumbini Sanskritik Municipality welcomed the UN Secretary-General Guterres from the Shanti Deep (peace lamp) to the Mayadebi Temple, lining up on both sides of the route.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' welcomed Guterres in Lumbini. Guterres even went to Annapurna Base Camp. He would address the Federal Parliament after returning from Lumbini.

UN Secretary-General's visit to the world heritage site, Lumbini, would help the world to understand the importance of Buddha's birthplace. It is expected that Guterres's message of world peace from the Buddha's birthplace would help to promote tourism in Lumbini.