The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kolkata organized a series of meaningful activities to enhance friendly relations and build collaborative networks with India, highlighting Buddhism as a vital cultural and spiritual bridge between Thailand and India.

        1. Buddha Statue Presentation Ceremony and Alms Offering in Patna

            On 6 September 2025, the Royal Thai Consulate-General, in cooperation with the Royal Thai Monastery Bodhgaya, presented a Buddha Statue to be enshrined as the principal Buddha statue at the Patliputra Karuna Stupa, located within Buddha Smriti Park, Patna, Bihar. The Consulate-General also hosted a lunch offering for 15 Buddhist monks from both India and Thailand. The ceremony was attended by senior Bihar officials, including Mr. Animesh Kumar Parashar, Managing Director of the Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (BUIDCO), representatives from Patna District, and officials from Buddha Smriti Park. The event featured a handover ceremony and a Buddhist chanting ceremony.

             In her remarks, Consul-General Siriporn Tantipanyathep stated: “It is my great honor to present this Buddha Statue to the Patliputra Karuna Stupa. This offering, a gesture of goodwill from the Government and People of Thailand, symbolizes not only peace, but also of the enduring friendship that binds our two nations together. Thailand and India share a timeless spiritual and cultural heritage that has flourished for centuries. This Buddha Statue stands as a further testament to the deep bonds of friendship and partnership between our two nations, bonds that continues to grow ever stronger with each passing day.”

          2. Alms Offering at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya

             On 15 September 2025, the Royal Thai Consulate-General hosted a lunch offering for 10 Indian monks at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya, alongside members of Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC). This gesture of goodwill was aimed at fostering closer ties with local monastic leaders and BTMC administrators, who play a pivotal role in the management of this sacred site. Mahabodhi Temple is one of the most sacred pilgrimage destinations in Buddhism and forms a key part of the Buddhist Circuit in Bihar. Currently, more than 30 Thai temples are located across Bihar, and over 80,000 Thai Buddhists visit Bihar annually for religious pilgrimage.

             These two events underscore the proactive role of the Royal Thai Consulate-General in leveraging Buddhism as a cultural and spiritual bridge to strengthen Thailand–India relations. They also serve as platforms for building meaningful networks with local governments, and local communities, contributing to a deeper mutual understanding, enduring friendship, and sustainable cooperation between the two countries and peoples.