Bodh Gaya, India, 19–20 July 2025: In a moving and heartfelt ceremony held beneath the sacred Maha Bodhi Tree—the very site where the Lord Buddha attained enlightenment—Ms. Siriporn Tantipanyathep, Consul-General of Thailand in Kolkata, joined hundreds of devoted Thai citizens in a mass ordination to honor the Birthday Anniversary of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua, celebrated on 28 July 2025. The event also marked the auspicious Royal Occasion of His Majesty reaching the same age as King Rama I, the Founder of the Chakri Dynasty.

The spiritual gathering, filled with reverence and deep national pride, was organized by the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister, in collaboration with Wat Suvarnabhumi Buddhachayanti and Wat Thai Bodhgaya. The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kolkata worked closely with the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) to coordinate the preparation of the event within the sacred grounds of the Maha Bodhi Temple, while also facilitating the arrivals and departures of the Thai delegation at both Kolkata and Gaya Airports. A total of 211 individuals from various sectors of Thai public service—civil servants, state enterprise employees, and contract workers—dedicated themselves to this noble cause. Among them, 112 men were ordained as monks, 54 women entered the nunhood, and 45 participants embraced the path of renunciation (Nekhamma). Their offering of spiritual merit was a collective expression of gratitude, faith, and devotion to His Majesty the King.

Set in one of Buddhism’s most sacred locations, this deeply meaningful ordination was more than a ceremonial act. It was a profound reminder of Thailand’s enduring spiritual heritage, a gesture of loyalty to the monarchy, and a bridge of friendship between the people of Thailand and India. In every chant and every robe donned, the spirit of unity, peace, and faith resonated in honor of a beloved monarch.