On 17 August 2024, the Royal Thai Consul-General of Thailand in Kolkata attended the Ceremony to Commemorate the Deceased Chairpersons of Thai Buddhist Missionary in India and Nepal and other activities organized by Wat Thai Buddhagaya, Bodhgaya as follows:   

1. The Prayer Service by International Buddhist Clergy Communities The prayer service was dedicated to 5 historical figures who contributed to the flourishing of Buddhism in India; namely, Emperor Ashoka the Great; Shri Jawaharlal Nehru, first Prime Minister of India; Mahatma Gandhi; Anagarika Dhammapala; and Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. Ms. Siriporn Tantipanyathep, Consul-General of Thailand in Kolkata lighted the ceremonial incense and candle as offering in front of the portrait of Emperor Ashoka the Great. Afterwards, 67 international Bhikkus and Bhikhunis representing Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana Buddhist orders from various region and country such as Tibet, Vietnam and Japan performed the prayer service and pay respect the said historical figures.  

2. The Annual Merit-Making Ceremony for the Deceased Chairpersons of Thai Buddhist Missionary in India and Nepal, Thai Ambassadors to India and Consuls-General of Thailand in Kolkata Consul-General lighted the ceremonial incense and candle as offering in front of the portraits of deceased Thai Ambassadors to India and Consuls-General of Thailand in Kolkata. Afterwards, the monks recited a funerary chant for the deceased, and Consul-General offered alms to the monks.

3. The Congratulatory Ceremony for the Monks Who Received the Royal Proclamation of Higher Monastic Ranks Consul-General attended the ceremony and congratulate the members of the Committee of Thai Buddhist Missionary in India and Nepal, who have recently received the royal proclamation of higher monastic ranks by His Majesty the King of Thailand. Consul-General also read out the royal proclamations and the edicts by the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand on the promotion to higher monastic ranks.

4. The Donation to Wat Thai Buddhagaya Consul-General made money donations to Wat Thai Buddhagaya at the amount of 50,000 Thai Baht or equivalent to 108,695 Indian Rupee, in recognition of the Temple’s crucial role in supporting the Consulate-General’s mission in providing consular service to Thai community in Bodhgaya and adjacent areas, especially the rendering of assistance to those who fall ill or in distress.