LOWELL — This year’s holiday display outside City Hall includes its biggest exhibit dedicated to Buddhism.

A giant Buddha statue, set in an ornate display, now stands alongside a Christian Nativity scene and a Jewish menorah. A smaller Buddhist display was included last year for the first time.

The statue was shipped from Cambodia, with donations covering the $2,700 cost of the statue and $1,500 cost of the larger display, said Vichhay Sok, president of the Glory Buddhist Temple on Cambridge Street.

“We really thank City Hall and the Police Department for allowing us to do that, and for bringing people together,” Sok said, adding that the Buddhist community has enjoyed being able to show its traditions.

An information board gives details of the ancient spiritual leader, who lived sometime during the 6th Century to 4th Century B.C. and whose teachings inspired the religion. The board includes the name of the Glory Buddhist Temple and the Trairatanaram Temple in Chelmsford.

The broader holiday display comes several years after the Nativity scene stirred some controversy. The display was moved from outside City Hall to the nearby St. Anne’s Episcopal Church after complaints of a Christian symbol on government property. The city determined that a display for a single religion would not stand up to legal challenges.

The City Council voted shortly thereafter, in January 2014, to return the Nativity to outside City Hall. It also voted to look into a broader display to include other religions.

Since then, City Hall has honored Christmas and Hanukkah, along with the Buddhist display. Many members of Lowell’s Cambodian community, along with other southeast Asian countries, are Buddhist.

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