KATHMANDU: Ahead of Buddha Purnima (birth anniversary) on May 16, the Indian government is planning a visit by its Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Lumbini in Nepal, the Buddha’s birthplace recognised as a UNESCO world heritage site, sources confirmed. Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is also expected to be in Lumbini to mark the occasion, the sources added.
The visit, which comes a month after Mr. Deuba travelled to India for a bilateral visit, is not expected to include a stop to Kathmandu at present.
This would be Modi’s first visit to Nepal since he was re-elected in 2019. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is expected to attend the celebrations in Lumbini