Gaya, Bihar, India – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, on behalf of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua, presented the Royal Kathina Robes to the All India Bhikkhu Sangha in Gaya, Bihar, India on 11 October. The ceremony reflects the enduring spiritual and cultural ties between Thailand and India, rooted in a shared Buddhist heritage spanning more than two thousand years.
Presided over by Ms. Sasirit Tankulrat, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, the Royal Kathina Presentation Ceremony was held in the presence of leading Thai and Indian Buddhist figures. The religious proceedings were led by Phra Phromvajiravongs, Chairperson of the Thai Buddhist Missionary in India–Nepal and Abbot of Wat Thai Buddhagaya, alongside Bhikkhu Pragya Deep, Abbot of the All India Bhikkhu Sangha, and members of the Sangha.
Distinguished attendees included H.E. Ms. Chavanart Thangsumphant, Ambassador of Thailand to India; Ms. Siriporn Tantipanyathep, Consul-General in Kolkata; Mr. Panidone Pachimsawat, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information; as well as Consuls-General of Thailand in India, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, members of Team Thailand, and representatives of the Thai and Indian Buddhist communities. Dr. Mahashweta Maharathi, Secretary of the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC), was also present.
This year’s Royal Kathina offering received generous contributions from His Majesty the King, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Thai and Indian devotees, with total donations amounting to 560,911 THB and 49,510 INR.
In a gesture of goodwill, the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kolkata, together with the Dhammaduta Bhikkhus Thai Mission in India–Nepal and Wat Thai Buddhagaya, presented 74 “Phra Buddha Jayanti Sri Siam” Buddha Statues to local Buddhist communities and distributed essential supplies and consumption goods to local residents.
Established in 1972 under the patronage of Wat Thai Buddhagaya, the All India Bhikkhu Sangha is a Theravada Buddhist organization dedicated to revitalizing Buddhism in India through Dhamma teachings, Pali language training, Vipassana meditation, and Buddhist education.
This marks the 15th Royal Kathina Ceremony organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in India, reinforcing the long-standing religious and cultural connections between the two nations.
Since 1995, the Ministry has organized the Presentation of the Royal Kathina Robes annually at temples abroad as part of Thailand’s cultural diplomacy initiative. The effort aims to foster friendship and strengthen people-to-people relations through Buddhism.
In 2025, the Royal Kathina Robes are being presented in eight countries — India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Lao PDR, Viet Nam, and China — highlighting Thailand’s commitment to promoting Buddhist diplomacy and international goodwill.
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