Stone Buddha Statue Restored to Original Seat

Kathmandu. The stone Buddha statue of archaeological and religious significance, stolen from Nhuchhe Bahal (Bajradhatu Vihar) in Jore Ganesh Om Bahal Tole of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Ward No. 23, has been returned to its original seat. This statue, which had reached the Tibet House Collection in New York, USA, was brought back to Nepal on February 18, 2022 (Bikram Sambat 2078 BS). After the Department of Archaeology and Nepali heritage activists dedicated themselves to the process of bringing the statue back, it was preserved in the National Museum.

To bring the statue kept in the museum back to its original place, the acting mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Sunita Dangol, the chairman of Ward No. 23 and coordinator of the Metropolitan City's Legislation Committee, Macharaja Maharjan, along with officials from concerned offices, visited the museum on May 1, 2023 (Bikram Sambat 2080 BS, Baisakh 17). Representatives from the Department of Archaeology, the custodian of Nhuchhe Bahal, Amar Shakya, heritage activist Ganapatilal Shrestha, and advocate and heritage activist Sanjay Adhikari were present during this process.

The statue was handed over by the chief of the National Museum, Aruna Karmacharya, after completing the paperwork to entrust the security and conservation of the statue to the concerned custodian as per Section 20 (A) of the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 2013.

The statue was kept at the Hanumandhoka Caretaker Office on that day. The statue, kept in this manner, was re-established in its original seat at the Vihar on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti on May 2, 2023 (Bikram Sambat 2080 BS, Baisakh 18). During the procession of the statue from Hanumandhoka to the Vihar, acting mayor Dangol, ward chairman Maharjan, people's representatives, heritage activists, and representatives of the Guthi Khel Pucha celebrated with music.

Participating in the celebration, acting mayor Dangol said that the beauty of statues should be in settlements and squares. She said, 'The statues within Nepal Mandala are not just figures. Every statue has life. Every statue has a deep intimate relationship with social life. Locals are aware of the conservation of these statues. We will be fully committed to the work that needs to be done from the Metropolitan City's side.'

On that occasion, ward 23 chairman Maharjan mentioned that the re-establishment of the statue has made a great contribution to enhancing the cultural identity of the ward. The chief of the National Museum, Karmacharya, said that the coordination between the local government and the community in heritage conservation is an excellent example.

Heritage conservationists Ganapatilal and Sanjay said that their enthusiasm for bringing back ancient artifacts sold abroad has increased.

This is the third property where stolen statues and artistic objects have been restored to their original places. Earlier, the Torana from Kumari Ghar and the Mahagauri/Parvati statue from the G:guthi Suryamukhi Mahadev Temple premises have also been returned to their original seats. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City holds discussions with concerned and partner offices and completes legal and administrative processes to facilitate the return of such statues.

Toraṇa Returned from Britain Re-established in Kumari Ghar

The Torana stolen from the residence of the living goddess Shri Kumari in Basantapur was re-established on November 21, 2024 (Bikram Sambat 2081 BS, Mangsir 5). The Torana, stolen around 1999 (Bikram Sambat 2056 BS), was found in the Barakat Museum in the United Kingdom and was kept in the National Museum, Chhauni, after being returned.

Before the re-establishment of the Torana, the Deputy Mayor of the Metropolitan City (currently acting mayor) Sunita Dangol, Coordinator of the Heritage and Tourism Committee Ashaman Sangat, Chairman of Ward 23 (the ward where Kumari Ghar is located) and Coordinator of the Metropolitan City's Legislation Committee Macharaja Maharjan, and the custodian of Kumari Ghar, Gautam Shakya, along with officials, visited the museum to receive the Torana. They signed and thumb-printed the letter to receive the Torana and brought it back. During that time, there was enthusiastic participation from heritage conservationists and local residents.

As per the provision in Section 20 (A) of the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 2013, the Torana was returned to the concerned custodian to be placed in its original location based on the recommendation of the local level and the District Administration Office for the conservation of the object. The Torana, a semi-circular wooden 'kshepu' artifact, is located above the fifth window from the left among the windows and doors on the ground floor of Kumari Ghar and was constructed from wood in the 17th to 18th century. It is 104.55 centimeters in size.

Mahagauri-Parvati Stone Statue

On April 18, 2025 (Bikram Sambat 2083 BS, Baisakh 5), on the occasion of World Heritage Day, the 13th-century stone statue of Mahagauri/Parvati in a dancing posture, kept in the National Museum, Chhauni, was re-established in its original seat at the G:guthi Suryamukhi Mahadev Temple premises in Maru, Ward No. 20. The statue measures 68.5 centimeters in height and 30.5 centimeters in width.

The stolen statue had been taken to Britain. It was returned in 2048 BS (1991 AD) and kept in the Juddha Ethnographic Museum of the National Museum, Chhauni. From there, the acting mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Sunita Dangol, Coordinator of the Heritage and Tourism Committee Ashaman Sangat, Chairman of Ward No. 20 Rajendra Manandhar, and heritage activists Ganapatilal Shrestha and advocate Sanjay Adhikari received the statue and brought it back. The statue was handed over by the museum's storekeeper Binda Shrestha and assistant guide Ushakumari Singh in the presence of the chief of the museum Aruna Karmacharya, chief of Hanumandhoka Caretaker Office Kajiman Pyakurel, museum officer of the National Museum Subashkrishna Dangol, and archaeological officer of the Department of Archaeology Amrita Maharjan.