Precious Buddha statue brought at Bhairahawa

Rupandehi: A precious Buddha statue to be set up at the Gautam Buddha International Airport, Bhairahawa arrived here on Thursday. The statue made up of white jade has been brought to Bhairahawa Customs Office from Myanmar via Hong Kong and Kolkata port.

It is said the figurine was made at the cost of some Rs 2.50 billion and was handed over to the Nepal government by the Lumbini Garden Foundation. It is being installed at the international airport, Bhairahawa. The Malwin Group, a company relating to mines in Myanmar, had earlier given the statue to the Lumbini Garden Foundation of Spain.

It weighs 1800 kg and has a height of 1.9 metres and a width of 60 cm. After making documentation, the statue is being kept at the airport, taking it around Siddharthanagar Municipality, Mayadevi Rural Municipality and Lumbini Cultural Municipality.

Chamber of Industry and Commerce at Siddharthanagar, Lumbini Hotel Association and others have made grand preparation to welcome the statue. It is said such a statue has been sent to various 16 countries.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari is scheduled to unveil the statue on October 31. A high-level delegation led by Speaker from Spain is also arriving in Nepal to attend the function.