The third edition of the India-Nepal Cultural Festival was held in Lumbini on Monday.

Organised by the Indian embassy in Kathmandu in collaboration with the Lumbini Development Trust and Lumbini Buddhist University, the festival celebrated the shared cultural heritage of both countries, with a focus on Buddhism.

The event drew participation from academics, civil society members, senior monks, and officials of the Lumbini Development Trust, the Indian embassy in Kathmandu said.

Cultural performances included an Odissi dance recital with a Buddhist theme by a six-member ICCR troupe led by Sandhya Kunjan Menon Das and a traditional music performance by Nepali band Ghugu Mugu.

An academic seminar, “India-Nepal Buddhist Heritage: A Common Legacy,” was held at Lumbini Buddhist University, where scholars from both countries discussed the role of Buddhist heritage in strengthening cultural ties and people-to-people connections.

The festival highlighted the longstanding cultural and historical bonds between India and Nepal, the embassy said.