As a symbol of shared Buddhist heritage, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday gifted a sacred Bodhi tree sapling to be planted in Lumbini, the birthplace of the Lord Buddha.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted a sacred Bodhi tree sapling to Nepal, to be planted in Lumbini, the birthplace of the Lord Buddha. Photo shows Modi being welcomed by school children on his arrival in Kathmandu on Tuesday to attend the 18th SAARC Summit.

“I have brought a sapling from Bodh Gaya which will be planted by our Ambassador in Lumbini,” Modi said while inaugurating a trauma centre built by India at Kathmandu’s Bir Hospital.

The sapling would be planted on the premises of Maya Devi temple in Lumbini on November 28.

The Bodhi Tree at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya, Bihar, is the exact place where Prince Siddhartha attained enlightenment 2,600 years ago and became the Lord Buddha.

The Prime Minister, who arrived here today to attend the 18th SAARC summit, was keen to visit Lumbini along with Janakpur, the birth place of Sita situated 250 kms south of Kathmandu and sacred Hindu pilgrimage site Muktinath.

Yesterday, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had said that Prime Minister would not visit these places in view of parliament session.

-The Hindu