Buddha statue for Lumbini to be built in Thailand

A fundraising campaign is under way in Thailand for a plan to build a Buddha statue for Lumbini, the birth place of Siddhartha Gautam.

As part of the campaign, gold leaves and Buddha coins are being sold in the South East Asian country, specifically for the project, leaders of the drive said.

The drive is being led by veteran Thai politician Sudarat Keyuraphan and the Lumbini Development Trust of Nepal, the Bankok Post reported. "The 3.55m-tall statue of baby Buddha is the final piece in a restoration plan for the sacred Lumbini Garden, a UNESCO World Heritage Site," reported the post.

Khunying Sudarat told local media that the statue project is also intended as a tribute to the Thai King and Queen. Construction of the statue, which is to be carried out in Thailand, is expected to be completed in the first quarter of next year, and is expected to cost around $65,000. nepalnews.com