- Nepal repatriated several stolen artifacts from Belgium, including a Parshuram idol, a Tundal, and religious murals.
- Activists and the Nepali diaspora helped locate the items, many of which disappeared between the 1950s and 1980s.
- The Department of Archaeology will verify original sites before returning the artifacts to their respective temples.
- International laws and collaborative efforts continue to support the identification and recovery of Nepal’s lost cultural heritage.
Kathmandu, Nepal: Several historically significant artifacts stolen from Nepal in the past have been repatriated from Belgium, the Department of Archaeology said.
The returned items include an idol of Parshuram, a Tundal, and a number of religious murals. These artifacts had been taken abroad at different times and were recently located in Belgium with the support of national and international heritage activists.
According to Archaeology Officer Sarita Subedi, the department will verify the original locations of the recovered artifacts before returning them to their respective temples and heritage sites.
The Department of Archaeology stated that it initiates the repatriation process whenever information is received about stolen Nepali artifacts being found abroad. Such efforts are carried out in coordination with the government, international organizations, heritage activists, and scholars.
Records maintained by the department indicate that many cultural artifacts were lost from Nepal between the 1950s and 1980s. These items have since been identified in museums, auction houses, and private collections in various countries.
Under international legal provisions, cultural property identified as belonging to a particular country must be returned after the completion of necessary procedures. In most cases, the country currently holding the artifacts bears the transportation costs during repatriation.
The department also acknowledged the role of Nepali diaspora communities and heritage-related organizations in assisting with the identification and return of such artifacts.
The Kathmandu Valley is renowned for its rich tradition of wood carving, stone sculpture, and temple architecture from the medieval period. Experts say these artifacts are valuable for studying Nepal’s artistic and cultural history.
