Lumbini, Nov. 13 -- The steady chanting of sacred prayers fills the air. More than a thousand Buddha statues stand nearby as people dressed in yellow and saffron robes pray together. Theravada and Mahayana Buddhists take turns reciting religious texts, which are translated into seven languages for participants.

For the past two weeks, Lumbini, a sanctuary of world peace, has been alive with spiritual activity.

Large groups of monks, nuns, novice nuns and Buddhist teachers can be seen along its roads, accompanied by equally large numbers of lay devotees. After four to five years of relative quiet, the birthplace of Buddha is once again bustling with visitors.

A series of major spiritual gatherings has filled Lumbini with prayers and cha...