Buddha Statue Casting Ceremony Honors Queen's 60th Birthday
Two significant Buddha statues were cast at Wat Rajabophit on September 2 to honor Queen Suthida's 60th birthday, with the Supreme Patriarch presiding over the ceremony as gold and silver were melted and poured into molds.
On Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at 5 p.m., the Supreme Patriarch presided over the ceremony at Wat Rajabophit in Bangkok's Phra Nakhon district. The casting of two significant Buddha statues—Phra Nirantarai and Phra Samphutthapanni—took place in honor of Queen Suthida's 60th birthday on June 3, 2026. Both statues were created with royal approval as offerings from the government and all citizens to the Queen.
The King granted nineteen robes to the Supreme Patriarch, the monks who chanted, and senior teachers. Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nila-Aphant served as head of the lay delegation, alongside representatives from state agencies, private organizations, and Buddhist believers.
Following the chanting ceremony, the Supreme Patriarch led the casting ritual. Gold, silver, and base-metal sheets were presented and melted together, with the Deputy Prime Minister offering the precious metals. The Supreme Patriarch then poured the molten metals into molds while holding the sacred cord, concluding the ceremony with lustral water and flower offerings.
Wat Rajabophit received permission to cast an additional 480 Phra Nirantarai statues with gold plating and to inscribe the Queen's title on the throne. Once completed, these statues will be distributed to donors who contributed funds.
Phra Nirantarai is an important Buddha image originally created by King Rama IV and named to mean "free from danger." Eighteen more statues were later cast as royal gifts to monasteries, including Wat Rajabophit, completed during King Rama V's reign. The image depicts Buddha in meditation posture beneath a crystal pavilion shaped like the Grand Bodhi Tree, crowned with a golden victory crown, with nine Khmer inscriptions representing the Buddha's qualities.
Phra Samphutthapanni is another significant Buddha image created under King Rama IV's patronage during his ordination period at Wat Sommorai.
