Lalitpur, May 13:

The Vhaskar Varna Mahabihar (VVM), Nyakhachowk, installed an 18-feet tall reinforced cement concrete idol of Shakya Muni Buddha on its premises to observe the 2,550th Buddha Jayanti.

Monk Ushujan Priya Mahasthabir of Myanmar unveiled the idol yesterday as part of a week-long celebration.

Rajendra Shakya, coordinator of the Idol Construction Committee, said a four-member team carried out the construction work under the leadership of a local artist Buddha Ratna Shakya for three months.

The idol has been erected with financial support from more than 300 locals and different organisations. During the week-long celebrations, monks performed rituals, delivered religious discourses and organised health camps at Nyakhachowk.