Thai Government Ordains 232 Highland Residents in Buddhist Ceremony
A Thai government program ordained 232 highland residents in a Buddhist ceremony on July 12, continuing a 61-year initiative to develop remote communities through spiritual education and monastic training.
On Sunday, July 12, 2026, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, through the Department of Social Development and Welfare, partnered with the Foundation for Spreading Buddhism to Hill Tribes under royal patronage and the Dhamma Caravan monks to conduct an ordination ceremony for highland residents. The ceremony, presided over by Venerable Dhammavicharadhipati (Chum Punnyachayo), the abbot of Benjamabophit Dusitvanaram Temple and regional head of Zone 17, was attended by Deputy Minister Nikom Somklaung and other government officials, relatives of ordinands, and devotees at the temple in Bangkok's Dusit District.
Deputy Minister Nikom stated that the Dhamma Caravan project serves as a crucial mechanism for developing highland communities while propagating Buddhism and improving their quality of life and spiritual wellbeing. The project has operated continuously since 1965—a span of 61 years—resulting in 12,338 highland residents having been ordained, with 272 currently maintaining monastic status across 225 monasteries in 13 provinces. In 2026, a total of 232 residents were ordained. After the ceremony, they will study Buddhist scriptures and conduct general education to prepare as key members of the Dhamma Caravan, enabling them to return home and develop themselves, their families, and their communities sustainably.
Following the ordination rites, Venerable Dhammavicharadhipati and devotees presented robes, personal necessities, and supplies to the newly ordained monks and novices before they departed for the rains retreat and scriptural studies at Sri Soda Temple in Chiang Mai. The venerable abbot emphasized that the project creates religious successors and provides highland residents the opportunity to study Buddhist teachings and cultivate their minds, describing the support as an inspiration for these young monks to dedicate themselves to spreading the dharma light among highland communities and fostering sustainable improvements in their quality of life.
