1 700-year-old sleeping Buddha evokes diverse heritage

HARIPUR: Pakistan unveiled the remains of a 1 700-year-old sleeping Buddha image yesterday, part of an initiative to encourage tourism and project religious harmony in a region roiled by Islamist militancy.

A reflection of the diverse history and culture of the South Asian country, the ancient Buddhist site in Bhamala province was first discovered in 1929.

Eighty-eight years on, excavations resumed and the 14m Kanjur stone Buddha image was unearthed.

Abdul Samad, director of Bhamla’s archaeology and museums department, said: “This is from the 3rd century AD, making it the world’s oldest sleeping Buddha remains. We have discovered over 500 Buddha objects.”

The region was once the centre of Buddhist civilisation that took root under the Mauryan king Ashoka 2 300 years ago.

The presentation of the Buddha image coincided with a lockdown of major highways around the nation’s capital to contain a rightist protest against a perceived slight to Islam by members of the ruling Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz.

Minority communities in Pakistan are often targeted by right-wing groups, and successive governments have in the past been reluctant to embrace the country’s non-Muslim heritage.

In January, then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the restoration of Hindu temples at Katas Raj in Punjab province.

Opposition leader Imran Kahn presided over yesterday’s presentation.

Considered a conservative figure, he has stressed dialogue with Islamist hardliners including the Taliban, but yesterday said the preservation of sites like Bhamala could promote religious tourism.

“It’s a world heritage site (and) because of it people can come for religious tourism,” he said. – Reuters