KATHMANDU -- The World Peace Torch lit up at Lumbini in southern Nepal is being sent to the Shanghai World Expo in China with a view to popularize Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha.

According to Friday's The Rising Nepal, the peace torch would spread the message that the Light of Asia was born in Lumbini of Nepal, organizers said.

The Nepal Pavilion of the Implementing Experts Group at the expo arranged for the peace torch to reach Shanghai.

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On Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Sujata Koirala inaugurated the rally by lighting a special oil-fed lamp.

Buddhists from many countries, including China symbolically lighted peace torches at Mayadevi temple premises.

"The world peace torch will deepen the relations between Nepal and China", Koirala said while lighting the torch.

On Friday, it will reach Pokhara, a famous tourism city in western Nepal, and on Saturday it will arrive in the capital Kathmandu.

Then the torch will be handed over to Chinese government representatives who will take it by air to Shanghai on 23rd August.

The torch will be kept at China's famous Longahwa Gumba until September 2 for public viewing and on September 3, it will be kept at the Nepal Pavilion during the inauguration of the Nepal Pavilion Day.

Organizer said the event would inform the world that Gautam Buddha was born in Lumbini and that Lumbini was in Nepal.