On 22 May 2024, Ms. Siriporn Tantipanyathep, Consul-General of Thailand to Kolkata attended religious ceremony at Wat Thai Bodhgaya on the occasion of Visakha Puja Day. Approximately 70 Buddhist pilgrims came from Thailand to this ceremony. The Consul-General took part in the ordination ceremony and performed religious rituals under the sacred Bodhi tree along with monks and nuns. She offered Kheer to Lord Buddha at the main temple of the Mahabodhi Mahavihara. The Consul-General offered offerings to monks at Wat Thai Bodhgaya. During the evening the Consul-General attended the candlelight procession at Mahabodhi Temple and offered prayers, as well as she joined to decorate the tableau of Wat Thai Bodhgaya for the procession on 23 May 2024.

 

On 23 May 2024, Consul-General Siriporn attended the 2568th Buddha Jayanti- Vesaka Puja celebration at Mahabodhi Mahavihara as Guest of Honor. Shri Rajendra Arlekar, the Governor of Bihar was also present as the Chief Guest. The ceremony started with the lighting of ceremonial lamp by the Chief Guest and the Guest of Honor. Addressing the gathering the Thai Consul-General mentioned India and Thailand share “cultural heritage” through people-to-people connections and religious linkages dating back thousands of years, reinforcing the close and cordial relations that exist between our two governments. She said Buddhism serves as “spiritual bridge” fostering a very deep-rooted, from heart-to-heart connectivity and she looked forward to further strengthening these special bonds of friendship and partnership, and beyond between Thailand and India, especially here in this important Buddhist landmark - Bodhgaya. Governor also agreed the same and recalled his Thailand visit in March 2024, with the sacred Buddha Relics, he praised the people of Thailand for how devoutly they respected the sacred relics and received them in their country.

 

In the evening Consul-General Siriporn attended the prayer service ceremony by the International Buddhist monks and devotees under the holy Bodhi Tree. 2568 candles were lit up in celebration of the Buddha Jayanti. Dr. Thiyagrajan S.M., IAS District Magistrate, Gaya cum Chairman of Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC), Dr. Mahashweta Maharathi, Member Secretary of BTMC, and other distinguished members of Gaya administration were also present.