Dec 09, Kathmandu - The Embassy of India in Nepal, in collaboration with the Lumbini Development Trust and Lumbini Buddhist University, organized the third edition of the India-Nepal Cultural Festival in Lumbini on 08 December 2025.

The festival celebrated the rich cultural heritage and traditions of both India and Nepal, with a special focus on Buddhism. The event was jointly inaugurated by Hon’ble Mr. Krishna Bahadur Gharti Magar, Governor of Lumbini Province; Mr. Munu Mahawar, Additional Secretary (North), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India; Dr. Lharkyal Lama, Vice Chairman of Lumbini Development Trust, and Dr. Rakesh Pandey, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India in Kathmandu. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation, including, by civil society members, academics, senior monks, and members from the Lumbini Development Trust. 

The event featured a cultural programme, with performances by renowned artists from both India and Nepal. An Odissi dance recital with a Buddhist theme was presented by a six-member ICCR troupe led by Ms. Sandhya Kunjan Menon Das. The evening also included traditional musical performance by a Nepali band ‘Ghugu Mugu’.

As a part of this festival, an academic seminar titled “India-Nepal Buddhist Heritage: A common Legacy” was organized at the Lumbini Buddhist University in the forenoon of 08 December 2025. The seminar brought together eminent Buddhist scholars from India and Nepal, who shared their insights on the significance of Buddhist heritage in strengthening cultural ties and fostering people-to-people connections between the two countries.

The event underscored the strong cultural and historical bonds between the two nations.