On 19 October 2025, H.E. Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, presided over the presentation of the Royal Kathina Robe, graciously bestowed by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua, at the Grand Kuenrey Hall, Tashichhodzong in Thimphu, Kingdom of Bhutan.

The ceremony was led by Venerable Lopen Ugyen Dorji, Abbot of Kuenrey Monastery, and attended by H.E. Lyonpo Tshering, Minister for Home Affairs of Bhutan; H.E. Dasho Kesang Wangdi, Deputy Chairman of the Privy Council of Bhutan; Mrs. Varaporn Phuangketkeow, spouse of the Minister of Foreign Affairs; H.E. Mrs. Thitiporn Chirasawadi, Ambassador of Thailand in Dhaka and Ambassador-Designate of Thailand to Bhutan; Mr. Nikorndej Balankura, Director-General of the Department of Information; officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Royal Thai Embassy in Dhaka; representatives from Team Thailand; the Honorary Consulate-General of Thailand in Thimphu; and executives and officials from the Council for Buddhism in Bhutan, the Office of the Royal Chamberlain, the Ministry of Home Affairs of Bhutan, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Bhutan, as well as members of the Thai and Bhutanese Buddhist communities.

This year’s Royal Kathina offering received contributions from His Majesty the King, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, and Thai and Bhutanese devotees amounting to 552,720 Thai Baht, 310 USD, and 14,746 Ngultrum, equivalent to approximately 573,733 Thai Baht in total.

Kuenrey Monastery is one of Bhutan’s most significant Vajrayana Buddhist monasteries, and the Grand Kuenrey Hall is an important venue for major national religious ceremonies as well as royal audiences for visiting dignitaries and ceremonies for the presentation of Letters of Credence by foreign ambassadors.

The Grand Kuenrey Hall also hosted the State Visit of His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen of Thailand on 25 April 2025, as well as the presentation of the World Tipiṭaka Saj-jhā-ya Phonetic Recitation – King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit Commemorative 2016 Editions to His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen of Bhutan on 23 June 2025, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand in collaboration with the World Tipiṭaka Foundation, in celebration of His Majesty the King of Thailand’s 72nd Birthday Anniversary.

This marks the fifth Royal Kathina offering ceremony in Bhutan, as part of Thailand’s continuing efforts to foster goodwill and people-to-people relations, following the recent State Visit to Bhutan by Their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand in April 2025.

The ceremony was also held in the lead-up to the auspicious occasion of the 70th Birthday Anniversary of His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth Druk Gyalpo of Bhutan, on 11 November 2025.

Since 1995, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has organized the presentation of the Royal Kathina Robes annually at Buddhist temples abroad as part of Thailand’s cultural diplomacy efforts to strengthen friendship and foster people-to-people ties through Buddhism. The initiative has gradually expanded from neighbouring countries to ASEAN members, South Asia, and East Asia. In 2025, the Royal Kathina Robes are being presented in eight countries – India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Lao PDR, Viet Nam, and China – bringing the total to 198 ceremonies in 13 countries over 31 years.