Lumbini: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba participated in the foundation stone laying ceremony of the India International Centre of Buddhist Culture and Heritage within the Lumbini Monastic Zone on Monday.
The construction of the Centre will be undertaken by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), India with the financial support of Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
PM Modi today begen his Nepal visit with the prayers at the Mayadevi temple. Prime Minister was accompanied by PM Deuba and his spouse Arzu Rana Deuba.
Later, the two PMs paid their respects at the Marker Stone inside the temple premises, which pinpoints the exact birth spot of Lord Buddha.
The two Prime Ministers also lit lamps near the Ashoka Pillar located adjacent to the temple. The pillar, which was erected by Emperor Ashoka in 249 BC, bears the first epigraphic evidence of Lumbini being the birthplace of Lord Buddha.
Both the Prime Ministers also watered the Bodhi tree sapling from Bodh Gaya which was gifted by PM Modi to Lumbini in 2014.
