KATHMANDU: The Lumbini–Nepal Mini Marathon will take place in Thailand in the first week of May 2026, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Lord Gautam Buddha, according to the Embassy of Nepal in Bangkok.

The event will feature 10 km and 5 km races and is being organized to promote Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, and to highlight Nepal’s tourism, cuisine, culture and exportable products in the Thai market.

According to the embassy, a discussion programme was held at the Nepali Embassy in Bangkok on Sunday to prepare for the event. Representatives from Nepal Airlines, the Non-Resident Nepali Association Thailand, Thai–Nepal Association, Thai–Nepal Friendship Association, Nepali professionals working in UN agencies, academic institutions including the Asian Institute of Technology, King Mongkut University and Siam University, Western Union, and Nepali entrepreneurs in Thailand participated in the meeting.

The Embassy has formed an organizing committee under the patronage of Nepal’s Ambassador to Thailand, Dhan Bahadur Oli, and convened by Deputy Chief of Mission Moti Bahadur Shrees. Several sub-committees have also been formed:

• Budget and Fund Management: Kumar Karki
• Management and Coordination: Moon Gurung
• Technical and On-site Management: Prem Adhikari
• IT and Publicity: Biplav Regmi
• Coordination and Publicity in Nepal: Bikram Pandey Kaji and TS Thakuri

The Embassy said marathon events have proven to be effective tools for tourism promotion globally, and the initiative aims to strengthen Nepal’s tourism presence in Thailand.