Buddhists from various countries gathered in Nepal for the event. Similar ceremonies were scheduled to take place in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Koreas and many other countries.

Scores of Tibetan Buddhists have also joined the celebrations. Hundreds have come from outside Nepal, but 20,000 are already in the country as refugees.

The United Nations as well has officially marked the day since 2002.

In a statement issued on this occasion, Nepali President Ram Baran Yadav made an appeal to all Nepalis to help political parties to forge a consensus. “Nepal,” he said, “can spread globally the Buddha’s peace”. As an example, the Buddha can help Nepal’s political leaders “find a consensus, which is the way to peace”.

Both President Yadav and Prime Minister Madhav Kumar were scheduled to take part in a special ceremony in Lumbini, the Buddha’s birthplace, but had to bow out because of the political crisis.

Tomorrow in fact is the deadline set in 2008 for signing the new constitution, which still needs to be approved by the country’s Maoist party in order to come into effect.

Like the Buddha, Culture Minister Minendra Rijal is a Lumbini native. “Nepal’s identity is guided by the Buddha, as his country,” he said, “Everyone should believe in the peace of Buddha that the country may have real peace.”

In the current crisis, the government and Maoists are pitted against one another.

The crisis began in May of last year, when then Prime Minister and Maoist leader Prachanda resigned because he could not get his rebel fighters incorporated into the military.

Since then, no agreement has been reached between the ruling coalition government and Maoist leaders. Instead, the latter have called on the government to quit and hold new elections.

Recently, Maoists also organised a general strike that brought the country to the brink of economic collapse and close to another civil war.