KATHMANDU, NEPAL, July 1, 2026 (Hinduism Today): For centuries, Nepal’s temples, courtyards and villages housed sacred statues that were not regarded merely as artworks but worshiped as living Gods. After Nepal opened to international visitors in the 1950s, growing global interest in its sacred art was followed by widespread theft. Thousands of statues and other religious objects were removed from temples and communities and entered international museums, galleries, auction houses and private collections.
Efforts to recover the lost heritage have grown substantially. Since formal repatriation efforts began in the 1980s, 201 sacred objects have been returned to Nepal, while activists and organizations such as the National Heritage Recovery Campaign and Lost Arts of Nepal continue to identify objects overseas and document their provenance. A January 2026 cultural-property agreement between Nepal and the United States also strengthens efforts to intercept illegally trafficked antiquities and return them to their communities.
Source: https://www.hinduismtoday.com/the-homecoming-of-nepals-gods/