KATHMANDU, JULY 6 Nepal officially received two stolen cultural antiquities repatriated from the United States during a ceremony hosted by the Department of Archaeology on Monday, marking another milestone in bilateral efforts to protect Nepal's cultural heritage. The returned artifacts include a 13th-century gilt bronze statue of Padmapani and a 16th-century polychromed wooden statue of Nrityadevi (Goddess of Dance). The US Embassy in Kathmandu said the handover reflected years of close cooperation between the two countries to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural property and restore sacred objects to the communities where they belong. The ceremony follows the recent implementation of the US-Nepal Cultural Property Agreement, which aims to strengthen cooperation in preventing antiquities trafficking, supporting investigations and safeguarding Nepal's cultural heritage.

Speaking at the event, US Embassy Public Affairs Chief Mike Harker said a total of 127 Nepali antiquities have now been returned from the United States. 'With the return of these two sacred statues, that record of cooperation grows stronger and demonstrates how criminal investigations, diplomatic coordination and community advocacy can work together to disrupt antiquities trafficking networks,' he said. The embassy said the United States remains committed to working with Nepal to protect cultural heritage, uphold the rule of law and preserve the country's history for future generations. The two artifacts were formally transferred to Nepal by US authorities in New York in June after being recovered through investigations led by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office Antiquities Trafficking Unit, US Homeland Security Investigations and partner agencies. According to the Consulate General of Nepal in New York, the Padmapani statue originally belonged to Tham Bahil (Vikramashila Mahavihara/Bhagwan Bahal) in Kathmandu and is believed to have been smuggled out of Nepal between 1971 and 1987. Similarly, the Nrityadevi statue, originally from I Baha Bahi in Patan, Lalitpur, was trafficked abroad between 1969 and 1983 before being recovered from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Following conservation by the Department of Archaeology, the two sacred artifacts are expected to be restored to their original sites.