A centuries-old Buddha statue stolen from a Nepali temple in the 1980s has been reinstalled in its original location in Kathmandu, carried in a palanquin to the sound of traditional music. The 13th-century statue was returned from New York in 2022.

“I feel so happy, we all do. Our god is coming back,” said 67-year-old devotee Sunkesari Shakya, recalling the day the theft caused “havoc” in the community. The ceremony coincided with Buddha Jayanti, marking the Buddha's birth.

US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor attended the event, stating, “We are trying to right a wrong from the past.” The statue had been donated to Tibet House US by an unknown monk, according to Nepal's Department of Archaeology.

Nepal has recovered about 200 artefacts from abroad in recent years, with 41 reinstalled in original locations. However, over 400 are officially listed as missing, and experts estimate the actual number in the thousands.

Conservation expert Rabindra Puri emphasized that the statues are “part of a living heritage.” Authorities are seeking the return of more artefacts from the US, France, Germany, and the UK.

Source: www.aljazeera.com