Its no doubt that Laughing Buddha Statues are perhaps one of the most loved artifacts of Nepal. They are commonly seen in homes, offices, hotels, gardens, restaurants and shops. These Laughing Buddha statues will make a welcome addition to your shrine, desk, or anywhere you need a gentle reminder to stay relaxed and to keep your sense of humor.

The Laughing Buddha is a symbol of happiness, contentment, and prosperity. He is bald a rotund figure with a warm smiling face. He is clothed in robes, and his protruding tummy symbolizes abundance and mirth. He is also believed to be the future Buddha or Maitreya Buddha . Laughing Buddha is originally a fertility figure who was known to bring "goodies" in his bag to local townsfolk, especially children. Later, he became a pre-incarnation of Maitreya. In Japan a laughing Buddha is called Hotei and is one of the seven lucky gods. Most people encounter this figure in Chinese shops and restaurants and confuse him for the historical Buddha Shakyamuni. The common tradition is to rub his belly for good luck and prosperity this is because his big figure is a sign of abundance. The Laughing Buddha is also known as the Laughing Buddha of Plenty. In Feng Shui, he is the symbol for wealth. It is believed that rubbing his tummy which contains wealth, luck, good fortune and joy will be ours. Laughing Buddha statues are popular house warming gifts. They are also used as good luck charms. It is commonly held that statues of the Laughing Buddha must not be placed on the floor. They must be positioned on an elevated surface, as a sign of respect. Moreover, the best direction to place them is the personal wealth direction. These statues are made up of brass, stone, wood, gold, ceramic etc.