Monk Celebrates 70th Birthday With Educational Grants
Luang Pho Itt, the 70-year-old abbot of Wat Chula Mani in Samut Songkhram, distributed over 1 million baht in educational scholarships and donated 13 tons of rice to schools across southern Thailand during a merit-making ceremony on August
On August 1, 2025, Wat Chula Mani in Bang Chang Subdistrict, Amphawa District, Samut Songkhram Province, held a merit-making ceremony marking the 70th birthday milestone of Phra Samut Vachirsobhan, known as Luang Pho Itt, the abbot of Wat Chula Mani. Somdet Phra Maharachmonkolmuni (Thongchai Thammadhamma), the senior Supreme Sangha Council member and vice abbot of Wat Trimit Withayaram, presided over the religious proceedings, with incense and candles offered to the Triple Gem. Chayachai Saengindra, Governor of Samut Songkhram Province, led the lay ceremony and presented flowers before a royal portrait. Nineteen senior monks chanted the Mahasamai Sutra to mark the 70th birthday celebration, after which alms were offered to 150 monks. Aquatic animals were also released into Amphawa Canal.
Educational scholarships and support totaling 1,090,000 baht were distributed, including 50,000 baht to Wat Molilokayanram in Bangkok for Pali studies, 20,000 baht each to Wat Phet Samut Worrawiharn and Wat Pradu in Samut Songkhram, 350,000 baht to students at Rajabhat University Kanchanaburi, 100,000 baht to primary school students in Samut Songkhram, 30,000 baht to Amphawan Witthayalai School students, and 20,000 baht to Thai Ratana Witthaya School 70. Additionally, 100,000 baht was donated to support a community development project in Mae Klong, Samut Songkhram.
Rice was also distributed to support school lunch and student welfare programs, totaling 2,600 bags weighing 13 tons (valued at approximately 390,000 baht). The rice was sent to six Border Patrol Police Schools in Thong Pha Phum District, Kanchanaburi Province—Luang Prakob Niti School, Ban Thilai Paa School, Suntarawet School, Mit Muanchon 2 School, Wichitra Witthayakarn School, and Ban Pilokki School—each receiving 200 bags. Additional distributions included 200 bags each to Border Patrol Police Schools in Ban Tham Hin (Sangkhla Buri District), 200 bags to Ban Tom Mamuang School (Thai Mueang District, Kanchanaburi), and allocations within Samut Songkhram to the primary education office (100 bags), Samut Songkhram Kindergarten (100 bags), and Muang Samut Songkhram School (100 bags), with 50 bags distributed to each of ten other local schools. Semi-finished instant noodles totaling 180 cases were also donated.
Infrastructure support included 100,000 baht toward building an ordination hall at Wat Bang Kaphom in Samut Songkhram, 200,000 baht for bathroom construction at Wat Don Phingdaet in Phetchaburi Province, and 100,000 baht for bathroom repairs at Wat Chang Thang Krajat School in Phetchaburi Province, with partial funding from the Davastatthit Foundation.
