The Lumbini International Festival 2026 at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo was more than just an event — it felt like a beautiful meeting point between culture, community, and shared humanity.
When we first heard about the festival, we were genuinely excited. Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, carries deep meaning for so many Nepalese people around the world, and seeing a festival dedicated to that spirit being held here in Bendigo felt very special.
At the same time, the date also clashed with another important event we already had booked for Shara Collections. For a while, we were honestly unsure what to do. After a lot of discussion, we finally decided that we wanted to be part of the Stupa event, and looking back now, we are truly grateful we made that choice.
After speaking with the organisers, we were offered the opportunity to create something unique as part of our stall — a small cultural experience where visitors could try on traditional Nepali clothing, take photos, and connect with a little piece of Nepali culture.
The idea sounded simple at first, but the reality behind it was much bigger.
We had only around two weeks to organise everything.
That is where Sister Shova Kunwar played a huge role. In a very short amount of time, she went shopping across Nepal, gathered as many traditional outfits as possible, purchased them, organised everything carefully, and arranged shipment to Australia. Despite global shipping delays and everything happening around the world, the dresses somehow arrived just in time for the festival.
Seeing those outfits arrive honestly felt emotional because it meant the idea had become real.
On the day of the festival, the atmosphere at the Great Stupa was incredible. There was Nepali music, cultural performances, food, laughter, colour, photography, and people from many different backgrounds coming together peacefully.
I spent much of the day capturing moments as a photographer while my wife focused on helping visitors at the stall, assisting people with the traditional outfits and helping them feel comfortable trying something new.
Not as many people tried on the outfits as we had first imagined, but the people who did genuinely enjoyed the experience. Some were excited, some curious, and some simply happy to learn about another culture. Watching people smile while wearing traditional Nepali clothing, taking photos, and sharing the moment with family and friends made all the hard work worth it.
One thing that meant a lot to us was being able to connect the experience with Katha Hijo Ko, our elderly support project in Nepal. While the dress experience itself was completely free, visitors were welcome to donate if they wished to support elderly people back in Nepal. It was a small but meaningful way to connect culture with community support.
The entire festival felt warm, welcoming, and genuinely community-driven. From the organisers to the volunteers, performers, and visitors, everyone helped create an atmosphere that felt peaceful and joyful throughout the day.
For us personally, this became much more than just another market stall.
It became a reminder that culture can bring people together, even far away from home.
And honestly, it turned into one of the most meaningful and memorable stall experiences we have ever had.
A heartfelt thank you to the Great Stupa team, the organisers of the Lumbini International Festival, everyone who supported the event, and every person who stopped by our stall to share a smile, a photo, or a conversation.
We truly hope this is only the beginning of many more celebrations of Lumbini, Nepali culture, and community connection here in Bendigo.
