EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PROJECT: "SON ET LUMIÈRE"
South Asia Foundation and South Asia Foundation-Nepal (SAF-Nepal), both not-for-profit, voluntary non-governmental development organisation established in 1991 and in 2012 respectively, had proposed to set up a state of the art light and sound project and had signed an MoU with the state-run Lumbini Development Trust, with the approval of the Government of Nepal, to establish a state-of-the-art Sound and Light Show at Lumbini, Nepal. A No Objection Certificate (NOC) has also been received from the Department of Archaeology, Govt. of Nepal as the site is a UNESCO heritage site.
“Sound and Light Show Project”: Titled “Light from Lumbini,” the proposed 30–40-minute immersive experience will be presented twice each evening, between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM, at the North Pond in Lumbini. Combining music, narration, digitally created imagery, projection technology, laser lighting and holography, the show will bring alive the extraordinary journey of Prince Siddhartha—from his birth in Lumbini to his transformation into the Buddha and the emergence of his timeless message of peace, compassion and wisdom.
Lumbini, recognised as the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, is one of the world’s most important Buddhist pilgrimage destinations and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site attracts pilgrims, tourists and visitors from Nepal and across the world. In 2024 alone, Lumbini recorded more than 1.17 million visitors, including visitors from Nepal, India and other countries.
For many visitors, the Maya Devi Temple and the Sacred Garden represent the starting point of a spiritual and historical journey into the life of the Buddha. While Lumbini already has facilities such as the Visitor Information Centre and the Lumbini Museum initiative that provide and develop information on Siddhartha’s life, history and Buddhist heritage, there is considerable scope to present this profound story through a large-scale, immersive and technologically enhanced evening experience.
“Light from Lumbini” is conceived to fill this experiential space by taking visitors beyond the historical significance of Lumbini and introducing them to the remarkable journey of Siddhartha and the universal relevance of the Buddha’s teachings. Through a carefully curated combination of sound, light, narration, visual storytelling, projection, laser technology and holography, the experience will seek to make the story accessible and meaningful to audiences of different ages, cultures and backgrounds.
The project will therefore serve not merely as an evening attraction, but as an important medium for the dissemination of knowledge about Gautam Buddha, his life, his teachings and their continuing relevance to humanity. Beginning with Lumbini—the place associated with Siddhartha’s birth—the narrative will trace the journey that ultimately led to enlightenment and the propagation of a philosophy centred on compassion, wisdom, non-violence, ethical conduct and peace.
In this way, “Light from Lumbini” will seek to connect the historical and spiritual significance of Lumbini with the contemporary world, offering visitors an engaging experience while strengthening Lumbini’s role as a global centre for Buddhist heritage, peace, spirituality and the universal message of the Buddha.
A Journey from Lumbini to Enlightenment:
The show will unfold in three broad phases, beginning with the sacred Lumbini Garden, followed by the birth of Siddhartha to Queen Maya Devi beneath the Ashoka tree, and culminating in his profound journey of spiritual quest and enlightenment as the Buddha.
A sophisticated water-fountain projection surface will be created on the North Pond, providing a semi-transparent screen for spectacular holographic images. State-of-the-art automated projection systems, high-quality sound, laser effects and 3D holography will combine to create a visually and emotionally compelling experience. The fountain installation may also be used for recreational purposes outside the show. A leading UK-based technical company has been engaged for the project and has already visited Lumbini to assess its technical feasibility and site requirements. Various companies with comparable expertise have estimated the cost of producing a holographic experience of this scale at approximately £1.2 million ($1.637).
The Vision of Sh. Shyam Benegal:
The aesthetic concept and script were developed by the noted Indian filmmaker Sh. Shyam Benegal, in consultation with renowned archaeologist Prof. Basant Bidari. The script was subsequently vetted by Nepalese scholars and relevant departments of the Government of Nepal. As envisioned by Sh. Benegal, the presentation will be concise yet powerful, tracing the most significant stages of Siddhartha’s transformation into the Buddha through moving images, music, narration, songs, film, 3D projections and holographic effects. The dramatic climax will depict the moment of enlightenment, when Siddhartha becomes the Buddha.
A Message for the Contemporary World:
SAF-Nepal regards Gautam Buddha as South Asia’s enduring face of global peace, compassion and human integrity. His teachings remain profoundly relevant to a world confronted by conflict, intolerance and uncertainty. Light from Lumbini seeks not merely to tell the story of Buddha, but to communicate his timeless message of peace and human harmony to a contemporary global audience, while highlighting his deep historical and spiritual connections with Nepal and India.
An important dimension of this larger story is the remarkable intellectual tradition that emerged from ancient Nalanda Mahavihara, one of the earliest great centres of higher learning in the world. Established during the Gupta period, around the 5th century CE, in a region of present-day Bihar, Nalanda flourished for several centuries as a major centre of learning, scholarship and Buddhist philosophy. Nalanda’s intellectual tradition extended well beyond religious studies. Its broad curriculum encompassed Buddhist philosophy, logic, grammar, medicine, astronomy, mathematics, metaphysics and other branches of knowledge, bringing scholars and students from different parts of Asia into a vibrant environment of residential learning and intellectual exchange.
At its height, Nalanda is traditionally described as having attracted thousands of students and teachers, including scholars from across Asia. Among them were eminent Buddhist scholars and monks who subsequently travelled to different parts of South and Southeast Asia, Central Asia and beyond. Through their journeys, scholarship and translations, they contributed to the transmission and enrichment of Buddhist thought and knowledge across a vast geographical region.
Nalanda therefore represents an important chapter in the wider story of how the Buddha’s teachings travelled beyond their place of origin and became part of a shared intellectual and spiritual heritage across Asia. Its tradition of residential learning, multidisciplinary scholarship, international students and teachers, and sustained intellectual exchange also offers an important historical precursor to several features associated with the modern university.
This dimension will form an integral part of Light from Lumbini, extending the narrative beyond the life of Siddhartha Gautama to explore how his ideas travelled, evolved and influenced societies across Asia. By connecting Lumbini with the wider Buddhist intellectual heritage represented by Nalanda, the show will present a larger story of knowledge, dialogue and human civilisation—linking the ancient world with the contemporary quest for peace, compassion, understanding and sustainable coexistence.
A Vision to Transform Lumbini after Sunset:
The project was jointly announced by SAF-Nepal and the Lumbini Development Trust on May 05, 2023, on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti, at Lumbini. The launch was attended by government representatives, scholars, monks, academicians, entrepreneurs, and bankers, members of the corporate sector and representatives of local governments from Lumbini and surrounding areas.
There was widespread appreciation that Light from Lumbini could become a major attraction for visitors, encourage longer stays in Lumbini, strengthen its identity as a global Buddhist destination, create local employment and generate additional revenue and foreign-exchange earnings for Nepal.
More importantly, the project seeks to give Lumbini a new dimension after sunset—transforming the timeless story of the Buddha into a spectacular contemporary experience of light, sound and technology, rooted in the sacred soil of his birthplace.
Details of Lumbini and its Monastic Zone
Aerial View of North Pond
CAD Map of North Pond