US government hands over lost antiquities to Nepal

April 2, Kathmandu: The Consulate General of Nepal in New York received three Nepali lost antiquities from the New York County District Attorney’s Office in New York on Friday.

On behalf of the Government of Nepal, Acting Consul General Bishnu Prasad Gautam, and District Attorney of New York County Cyrus Vance Jr. signed an agreement establishing the recovery, hand over and repatriation of the antiquities to Nepal.

Joan Illuzzi-Orbon, Executive District Attorney of New York County handed over the antiquities to the Acting Consul General at a ceremony organized by the New York County District Attorney’s Office at its premises.

The received antiquities: Seated Ganesha, circa 15-16th Century AD., size 3.13 x 2.12 x 5.5 inch; Seated Buddha in Bhumisparsa Mudra, circa 14-15th Century AD, size 7.13 x 4.5 x 9 inch; Wooden Beam depicting a coloured Apsara, circa 13th Century AD, size 8 x 9 x 50 inch, will be sent to Nepal by the Consulate soon.

Speaking at the ceremony, Acting Consul General Gautam expressed deep gratitude to the United States Department of Homeland Security and its officials and analysts for their hard work.

He appreciated their dedication and collaboration in recovery and returning these Nepali artefacts to Nepal.

He welcomed their commitment to working jointly for the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage.

He expressed hope to continue receiving similar cooperation from all in recovering and reinstating other lost antiquities of Nepal, in future.

He thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation of Nepal for their guidance and coordination in this process.

Executive District Attorney  Illuzzi-Orbon expressed satisfaction to have been able to recover and handover the lost Nepali antiquities back to Nepal.

She expressed deep commitment to working together with the Department of Homeland Security and all other countries in pursuit of tracking antiquities illegally owned and return to their rightful countries and people.