Nepal temple celebrates return of stolen Buddha statue

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KATHMANDU: A centuries-old Buddha statue, stolen in the 1980s, was finally reinstalled in its original Kathmandu temple on Friday.

The 13th-century artifact was carried back to its pagoda-style home in a palanquin, accompanied by traditional music and joyful residents. The ceremony coincided with the festival of Buddha Jayanti, marking the birth of the founder of Buddhism.

The statue had emerged at Tibet House US in New York after being gifted by an unknown monk, before its return to Nepal in 2022. During the ceremony, attended by a visiting U.S. envoy, the original was placed back on its stone plinth, replacing a replica locals had used for worship.

While approximately 200 artifacts have been returned to Nepal, thousands more remain missing following decades of theft. Experts emphasize that these are not merely art objects but a ‘living heritage’ central to the nation's religious life.

Photo Credits: AFP