KATHMANDU, MARCH 4

Andrea Metcalf, Mayor of Greater Bendigo City, Australia, welcomed a Nepali delegation led by Haridatta Kandel, Chief Administrative Officer of Baglung Municipality, at the Great Stupa near Bendigo.

The delegation included goodwill ambassador Dan Ghising, entrepreneur and "Made in Nepal" promoter Rachana Shrestha, and engineers Bipul Gyawali and Anupam Pathak. The event was facilitated by Ian Green, Chairman and Director of the Great Stupa.

During the ceremony, Mayor Andrea emphasized the importance of multiculturalism and expressed her willingness to foster a city partnership between Greater Bendigo City and municipalities in Nepal. She also highlighted her commitment to promoting cultural and tourism initiatives and expressed her willingnesss to welcome Nepali representatives in the future.

On this occasion, Ian Green provided insights into the historical significance of the Great Stupa and led a guided tour of the site. Currently under construction on a 200-hectare site in Bendigo, it is the largest Buddhist stupa in southern Australia. The complex features various artistic representations of Buddhist philosophy, along with well-organized depictions of Hindu temples, Sikh symbols, and Christian icons.

During the tour, Ian Green shared that he has been deeply influenced by Buddhist philosophy and has dedicated his ancestral property to the project. He also mentioned that many artistic elements of the stupa have been sourced from Nepal.

In recognition of the Great Stupa's role in promoting Nepal's cultural heritage, Haridatta Kandel, Chief Administrative Officer of Baglung Municipality, honored Ian Green and pledged to play a special role in further promoting Nepal's identity on the international stage.