High-level Thai Buddhist delegation on six-day India visit
New Delhi, June 18 (UNI) A high-level Thai Buddhist delegation led by Somdet Phra Thirayanamuni, the acting Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, is on a six-day visit to India, reinforcing the enduring historical and spiritual links between the two nations, according to a statement from the Union Culture Ministry.
The delegation visited the National Museum here to offer prayers at the Holy Relics shrine, accompanied by a Pali chanting ceremony.
The visit follows Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent trip to Thailand, where he underscored the shared Buddhist heritage and announced the forthcoming exposition of the Holy Relics of Devni Mori in Thailand.
Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat met the delegation, highlighting the shared heritage of Buddhism and Hinduism, including linguistic and cultural ties like the Ramayana tradition in Thailand. Shekhawat also invited the visiting monks to Ayodhya, citing the Patriarch's interest in Hindu mythology.
Somdet Phra Thirayanamuni, a royal monk and prominent religious leader, plays a key role in Buddhist education and international propagation.
The visit is expected to further enhance India-Thailand cultural diplomacy, religious tourism, and bilateral cooperation in heritage and education, said the statement.
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