A five feet tall statue of Buddha will be a new addition to the Unesco headquarters that will stand as symbol for global peace and compassion. 

The Paris-based Unesco central office has agreed to accept the statue which will be presented by Nepal to celebrate its 60th anniversary of joining the UN agency, said the Nepali Ambassador to France Mohan Krishna Shrestha.

“It will be a fitting gesture to gift the statue of Buddha to Unesco headquarters, the place where people from all around the world converge. Not only will the statue stand as a symbol of peace, it will also promote Nepali arts and artisans,” said Shrestha. He added that statue will also support Nepal’s claim over Buddha’s birthplace. The statue will also have a plaque that will bear the map of Nepal and the inscription “Birthplace of Lord Buddha”. 

The embassy has also requested the Unesco officials to find a strategic placement for the statue, a location that is easily noticeable to every visitor.  

“This will help shatter the illusion of those who still think that Buddha was born elsewhere and not in Nepal,” said Shrestha.  

The embassy plans on installing the statue on the next birth anniversary of Buddha. The Ministry of Finance recently issued the budget for the project and the preparations are well under way.

Last year, Nepal had installed a statue of Buddha at the International Court of Justice in the Peace Palace of the Hague, Netherlands