KATHMANDU: The world's biggest Thangka artwork, prepared by artists of 16 countries, has been put on display at the Dasharath Stadium on Friday.

The painting depicts the life cycle of Gautam Buddha.

The 70-metre long and 50-metre wide painting was prepared by a team led by Nepali artist Surya Bahadur Thakali and Japanese artist Yasuka Tatagi, on the occasion of the establishment of 60 years of the Nepal-Japan diplomatic relation.

Inaugurating the expo, Minister for Foreign Affairs Prakash Sharan Mahat stated that the precepts of Lord Buddha should be spread across the globe since the path shown by Buddha is the path of human civilisation.

Minister Mahat further said, "The Thangka art plays a significant role to recognise and spread Buddha's precepts throughout the world."

The painting was made possible with the 12-year hard work of Nepali artist Thakali, Japanese artist Tatagi and other artists to come up with the biggest Thangka art painting.

"The Thangka exhibition would further strengthen Nepal-Japan relations", stated Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Mashasi Ogawa, adding, "The Japanese Embassy would organise various programmes on the occasion of 60th anniversary of Nepal-Japan diplomatic ties."

Similarly, former State Minister for Labour, Tek Bahadur Gurung, said that Nepal could be a central hub of tourism attraction if the government kept the world's largest Thangka in Nepal.

The traditional Buddhist artwork would be put on display in Kathmandu on Friday and Saturday, in Pokhara on November 20 and 21 and in Lumbini on November 26 and 27.

The Manag Sewa Samaj organised the exhibition.