Bangkok: The government has extended an invitation to the public to participate in setting up tables for worship along the invitation route in the Yaowarat area on December 4th, in honor of the sacred Buddha’s Tooth Relic from the People’s Republic of China. This revered relic will be brought to Thailand and displayed for public worship from December 5th, 2024, to February 14th, 2025, at the Sanam Luang ceremonial ground.
According to Thai News Agency, the event is being organized to commemorate two significant occasions: His Majesty the King’s 6th cycle birthday anniversary on July 28th, 2024, and the 50th anniversary of Thai-Chinese diplomatic relations in 2025. The procession will begin in the afternoon, approximately at 2:00 p.m., and will follow a route that includes Wat Traimit, Thai-Chinese Friendship Road, the Chalermprakiat Archway, and Yaowarat Road. Along the procession, students, scholars, and members of the public are encouraged to pay homage.
The 2.7-kilometer procession will start at Phlap Ph
la Maha Jessada Bodin and end at Sanam Luang. Upon reaching the ceremonial pavilion at 6:00 p.m., the head of the Chinese delegation, Mr. Chen Ruifeng, Minister of the National Religious Affairs Office, will present the Buddha’s Tooth Relic to Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, the Prime Minister of Thailand. Following this, at 7:00 p.m., a formal ceremony will be held in the presence of Somdet Phra Ariyawongsakhatayan, the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, along with clergy leaders from both Thailand and China. A candlelight procession led by the president of the Thai-Chinese side will conclude the ceremony.
The preparation of the Sanam Luang venue is a collaborative effort by the Office of the Permanent Secretary to the Prime Minister, Ministry of Culture, the Royal Thai Police, the National Office of Buddhism, the Ministry of Public Health, and other relevant agencies. They aim to ensure a smooth and convenient experience for attendees. Commemorative postcards featuring the Buddha’s Tooth Relic, along with prayer
books, will be distributed during the event. Additional activities, such as New Year’s Eve prayers, alms giving on January 1, 2025, and celebrations for Chinese New Year and Makha Bucha Day, will be organized during the display period.
To facilitate the public’s access to the event, several parking areas have been designated, including Sanam Luang (600 cars), Thammasat University (150 cars), Royal Navy Club (150 cars), Atsadang Road (50 cars), Ratchanee Road (25 cars), and Thai Wang Road (50 cars).