Two books on Buddha’s birthplace launched

Two books—”Lumbini, Birthplace of Buddha” and “The Sacred Garden of Lumbini, Perceptions of Buddha’s birthplace”—were launched last week in the Capital. “Lumbini, Birthplace of Buddha” is a photobook, which includes 190 photographs of the World Heritage property of Lumbini and its surrounding areas, taken by eight photographers. The photographs are introduced by national and international personalities, through text in English, Chinese, French and Nepali. The second publication, “The Sacred Garden of Lumbini, Perceptions of Buddha’s birthplace,” compiled by Kai Weise provides a comprehensive analysis of the variety of perceptions on Buddha’s birthplace. The book is based on expert studies on eight realms of understanding of Lumbini—in Buddhist texts; in historical texts; in archaeology; as planned site as a World Heritage property; in an environmental context; and in association with the activities and expectations of visitors. Both the books have been co-published by the Unesco office in Kathmandu and France-based NGO “Oriental Cultural Heritage Site Protection Alliance”. “Beautiful photographs that highlight the global importance of the special, sacred and historical site of Lumbini,” wrote government chairman Khil Raj Regmi in his foreword to the book. “Lumbini is a place for meditation and renewal, it is also a symbol of the aspirations for peace, harmony and reconciliation shared by all people. The photographs in this book translate all of this power into images,” Unesco Director General Irina Bokova says in the book. “The study helps us to better understand why the ‘Sacred Garden’ became a place of Outstanding Universal Value, which since millennia women and men visit with faith, curiosity and devotion, as predicted by the Lord Buddha himself, says Axel Plathe, Unesco representative to Nepal, in his preface to the publication. The books were jointly launched by the Unesco office in Kathmandu, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, and the oriental Cultural Heritage Site Protection Alliance. source: ekantipur, 07 NOV 2013