Lumbini stands out from UNESCO’s delisting

Lumbini, a World Heritage Site, has been removed from UNESCO’s delisting list. The 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, organised in Paris, France, has decided to remove Lumbini from the list of endangered sites for one year.The decision was taken evaluating the conservation and restoration work being done in the Lumbini Area.

Lumbini is the Buddha’s birthplace, located at Rupandehi, the south western Teariin in Nepal, is one of the world’s most important spiritual sites and attracts Buddhist pilgrims from around the world.

This crucial decision was taken at a meeting held on July 10 under the chairmanship of Bulgarian Professor Nikolay Nenov. UNESCO has also decided to send a ‘Reactive Monitoring Mission’ to understand the overall situation of Lumbini. Based on the report submitted by this mission after on-site observation, a decision will be made again next year on whether Lumbini will be included in the endangered list or removed.

Earlier, in 2022, the World Heritage Center and ICOMOS sent a ‘Reactive Monitoring Mission’ to Lumbini, involving heritage expert Rolen Lin and Professor Kariya. Based on the same report, Lumbini was placed on the list of potential threats in 2024.

During the 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Delhi, India last year, a discussion was held on why Lumbini should not be included in the list of endangered sites. The UNESCO World Heritage Committee, incorporating the proposals put forward by Nepal during the discussions at that time, issues raised, questions, and suggestions received, sent a 12-point decision and directive through the Nepali Embassy in France.

According to Sanuraja Shakya, Member-Secretary of the Lumbini Development Fund, the positive decision was made because the ‘SOP Report’ was submitted by internalizing these points and creating reforms, protection, legal clarity, and policies. He said We have worked by incorporating everything, and it has yielded good results. Now we will continue our conservation-friendly work.”

UNESCO has taken this positively after work began on the creation of an ‘Integrated Management Framework (IMF)’ for the conservation and management of Lumbini’s heritage sites and the creation of various ‘Sector Strategies’ (fragmented strategic plans) in the World Heritage Area to implement it. Strategies for five sectors Sector strategies have been developed on five main topics: archaeology, visitor management, natural disasters, local development, and Buddhist communities.

While the IMF is a policy that provides an overall concept, the sector strategy is a plan to work. Similarly, UNESCO has also considered it good after work began on the conservation, cleaning and use of equipment and technology to prevent seepage of the Ashoka Pillars, Marker Stones and Nativity Sculptures. The Mayadevi Temple has been improved by painting, installing fans, electricity, and lights. It was urged to work with a thorough, comprehensive, and result-oriented plan to protect against a list of potential threats.

Senior Director Rai said that the current positive results have come because UNESCO has worked hard to preserve the unique global significance of Lumbini, not only in terms of commitment but also in the field, implementing the demands made by the organization accordingly. He added, “A World Heritage International Conference was held by calling experts to save Lumbini from the list of potential threats. It was very positive and effective.”

The fund’s secretary, Shakya, said that the results were satisfactory as the ‘SOC’ (State of Conservation Report) was sent after studying the old recommendations made by UNESCO in depth and analyzing their relevance. He said that the report was prepared in coordination with national and international experts, the ministry, and the Department of Archaeology, which has had a positive impact.

The 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee is underway in Paris from July 6 to 16. The session will end Wednesday.

There are now over twenty-five Buddhist monasteries built by different countries from Vietnam to France, study Buddhism, meditate and visit the birthplace within the sacred Mayadevi Gardens.

Mayadevi Temple is the most sacred site in the Lumbini Garden where archaeologists have identified the exact spot where Lord Buddha was born. Inscriptions on the Ashoka Pillar nearby also refer to the spot as his birthplace. It is said that the newly born Prince Siddhartha (later became the Buddha) took his first seven steps and delivered his peace message to humanity here.   The birth took place in the beautiful Sal grove, which is now the focal point of the Lumbini Garden. Mayadevi, the Queen of Shakya King Suddhodhana of Kapilvastu, while passing through the Lumbini Garden, on the day of Baishakha Purnima (full moon day of May in 623 BC) took a bath in the Sacred Pond Pushkarini and soon after gave birth to Prince Siddhartha. (By Purna N. Ranjitkar)