Upon arrival in Kathmandu, the artifacts will be formally handed over to the Department of Archaeology, Government of Nepal, for restoration to their original location.
NEW YORK:- The United States has returned two stolen rare and culturally significant statues of Padma Pani and Nritya Devi to Nepal.
Today, the United States received two ancient Nepali statues – Padma Pani and Nritya Devi – from the New York County District Attorney’s Office in a special handover ceremony held at the Nepal Consulate General in New York. The return was made to Nepal in a special handover ceremony held at the Nepal Consulate General in New York.
Nepali Consul General Dadhiram Bhandari and Colonel Matthew Bogdanos, head of the Antiquities Smuggling Unit of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, signed a memorandum of understanding on this occasion, formally transferring ownership of the Nepali ancient statues to the Government of Nepal.
The 13th-century bronze statue of Padmapani is a masterpiece originally from Tham-Bahil (Vikramshila Mahavihara, Bhagwan Bahal) in Kathmandu. The last photograph of this statue in the temple was taken in 1971. The artwork is believed to have been smuggled to the United States at an unknown date between 1971-77.
Similarly, a 16th-century wooden statue of the Goddess of Dance [Nrityadevi] is one of the finest wooden works from the E-Baha Bahi of Patan. The statue is believed to have been smuggled into the United States at an unknown date between 1969-83. It was seized from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. These statues were recovered through the dedicated efforts of the New York County District Attorney’s Office, in collaboration with the US Department of Homeland Security Investigations and other partner agencies.
Speaking on the occasion, Nepali Consul General Dadhiram Bhandari expressed Nepal’s gratitude to the United States Government and the people of Nepal, as well as the New York County District Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations investigators, museums, heritage campaigners, and community members whose collective efforts made the recovery and repatriation of these priceless cultural artifacts possible.
He emphasized that the growing cooperation between Nepal and the United States to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural property serves as an exemplary model of international partnership and reflects a shared commitment to preserving common heritage.
He expressed sincere gratitude to the Nepali diaspora and community organizations in the United States—particularly Newa Guthi, New York—for their long-standing support in the preservation and promotion of Nepal’s cultural heritage.
Following the handover ceremony, the two artifacts will be carefully packed and shipped to Nepal on June 25, 2026, with transportation and storage arrangements being made in close coordination with the Consulate General and Newa Guthi, New York, whose representatives will accompany the shipment to Nepal.
Upon arrival in Kathmandu, the artifacts will be formally handed over to the Department of Archaeology, Government of Nepal, for restoration to their original location.
The repatriation ceremony was attended by officials from the New York County District Attorney’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations, representatives from Newa Guthi New York and the Metropolitan Museum, professors, members of the Nepali community, heritage advocates, and media personnel.