New Museum Exhibition Opens at Nakhon Si Thammarat
A new permanent exhibition hall dedicated to Phra Mahathat Chedi opened at Nakhon Si Thammarat National Museum, showcasing the history and cultural significance of the revered Buddhist temple through multimedia displays and artifacts.
Recently, Panom Butr Chantrachoti, Director-General of the Fine Arts Department, presided over the opening of a permanent exhibition hall dedicated to Phra Mahathat Chedi Nakhon Si Thammarat at the Nakhon Si Thammarat National Museum in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of His Majesty King Maha Bhumibol Adulyadej on December 5, 2570.
The Fine Arts Department has undertaken a renovation and development initiative for the national museum, which His Majesty originally opened on August 26, 2517. The Nakhon Si Thammarat National Museum was the first national museum established in southern Thailand. As part of efforts to enhance the museum's capacity and significance, the Fine Arts Department created the new permanent exhibition hall dedicated to Phra Mahathat Chedi Nakhon Si Thammarat. The exhibition presents and conveys knowledge about Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahaviharn through contemporary and aesthetically refined display media, preserving and advancing cultural heritage as a learning and tourism destination capable of generating income for local communities. The exhibition also celebrates the designation of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahaviharn as a World Heritage Site, a matter of national pride.
The permanent exhibition hall presents this important religious monument, which serves as a spiritual center for the people of Nakhon Si Thammarat and residents throughout the southern region. The exhibition is titled "Phra Mahathat Chedi Nakhon Si Thammarat" and comprises an introduction stating "Born in one nation, one must pay respects to the chedi of the city of Nakhon Si Thammarat," which explains the significance of Buddhist relics in Thailand, the history of Phra Mahathat Chedi Nakhon Si Thammarat as one of Thailand's great chedis, and the history of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahaviharn.
Section 1, Phra Mahathat Chedi Nakhon Si Thammarat, presents multimedia and scale models explaining the history and significance of the chedi as the center of Buddhism in the southern peninsula. Section 2, Buddhist Veneration and Traditions, showcases the devotion people have toward the chedi through historical accounts of temple renovations, the presentation of Buddhist offerings, and related traditions, featuring ten Buddhist offerings displayed on a chedi model from the temple alongside interactive media. Section 3, Royal Devotion and Archaeological Work, recounts royal patronage and the preservation of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahaviharn according to international standards, using graphics, multimedia, and artifacts from archaeological excavations conducted in 2552 and 2559 to illustrate the temple's age, development, and significance, including the display of a wooden lintel from the main viharn. Section 4, Miscellaneous Narratives, presents stories, beliefs, and sacred aspects related to the temple, the devotion of people across generations, the role of the chedi as a spiritual center, and the identity of Nakhon Si Thammarat residents. The exhibition space is designed to evoke the atmosphere of a temple corridor, creating an immersive experience as if walking through the stories within the temple itself.
