KATHMANDU, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- The 10th National Buddhist Convention has kicked off at Dharmodaya Bihar in Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha in southern Nepal on Friday.

    According to Friday's The Kathmandu Post, President Ram Baran Yadav inaugurated the convention Thursday afternoon.

    Minister for culture Minendra Rijal is also attending the program with the president.

    Buddhists from across the nation are participating at the program.

    Ambassadors of Thailand and Sri-Lanka were present in the two-day conference where over 1000 Buddhists have participated.

    In the run-up to the convention, a golden-coated Buddha statute was set up with the rituals as per the various Buddhist traditions.