Royal Kathina Robe Offering Ceremony by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand in Gaya : A Symbol of Buddhist Bond Between India and Thailand

• Presentation of the Royal Kathina Robes by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the All India Bhikkhu Sangha, Gaya, Bihar (India)
• “Peace and friendship can flourish in the world only by walking the path of Buddha’s compassion.”

Bihar, Bodhgaya:

Ms. Sasirit Tankulrat, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, presided over the Royal Kathina Robe Offering Ceremony held at the All India Bhikkhu Sangha in Gaya, Bihar (India).

The Royal Kathina Robes were graciously bestowed by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua of Thailand upon the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for presentation to the Buddhist monastic congregation.

The ceremony was led by Phra Phromvajiravongs, Chairperson of the Thai Buddhist Missionary in India–Nepal and Abbot of Wat Thai Buddhagaya, along with Bhikkhu Pragya Deep, Abbot of the All India Bhikkhu Sangha, and members of the Sangha.

• Distinguished guests in attendance included —
• H.E. Ms. Chavanart Thangsumphant, Ambassador of Thailand to India;
• Ms. Siriporn Tantipanyathep, Consul-General of Thailand in Kolkata;
• Mr. Panidone Pachimsawat, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs;

Consuls-General of Thailand in India; officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; members of Team Thailand; representatives of Thai and Indian Buddhist communities; and Dr. Mahashweta Maharathi, Secretary of the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC), among others.

This year’s Royal Kathina Offering received contributions from His Majesty the King, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Thai and Indian devotees, amounting to 560,911 Thai Baht and 49,510 Indian Rupees in total.

On this occasion, the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kolkata, in collaboration with the Dhammaduta Bhikkhus Thai Mission in India–Nepal and Wat Thai Buddhagaya, presented 74 Buddha Statues “Phra Buddha Jayanti Sri Siam” to local Buddhist communities and distributed consumption goods and essential supplies to local residents.

The All India Bhikkhu Sangha, established in 1972 under the patronage of Wat Thai Buddhagaya, is a Theravada Buddhist organization that has played a crucial role in reviving Buddhism in India through Dhamma teachings, Pali language education, Vipassana meditation, and Buddhist academic initiatives.

This marks the 15th Royal Kathina Ceremony organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in India, reaffirming the spiritual and cultural ties between India and Thailand rooted in their shared Buddhist heritage spanning over two millennia.

Since 1995, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand has organized Royal Kathina Robe Presentation Ceremonies annually at Buddhist temples abroad as part of Thailand’s cultural diplomacy efforts to promote friendship and strengthen people-to-people connections through Buddhism.

Over time, this initiative has expanded from neighboring countries to include ASEAN nations, South Asia, and East Asia.

In 2025, the Royal Kathina Robe Offering Ceremonies are being held in eight countries — India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Lao PDR, Vietnam, and China.

“Peace and friendship can flourish in the world only by walking the path of Buddha’s compassion.”

Author : Dr. Parvinder Singh

World Peace Ambassador, United Nations

President, World Buddhist Federation