Thailand Honors Princess Bajrakitiyabha With Buddhist Ceremony In India
Thailand held a 15-day Buddhist merit-making ceremony in India to honor Princess Bajrakitiyabha's devotion to Buddhism and her compassionate work across sacred Buddhist sites. The ceremonies took place at Thai temples and consulates in Indi
The Department of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Culture, jointly with Wat Thai Bodh Gaya in Bihar State, India, the Thai Consulate General in Kolkata, and the Thai Consulate General in Mumbai held a 15-day merit-making ceremony to dedicate merit to Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati, Princess Siriphatchr, and Maha Vachiralakshadathida. Ceremonies were held at both Thai consulates general on June 25, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (local time) at Wat Thai Bodh Gaya's ordination hall in India.
Phra Brahmavachir Bodhivongs, abbot of Wat Thai Bodh Gaya and chief Buddhist missionary for India-Nepal, presided over the monastic side, while Chaiyapal Sukaiam, Director-General of the Department of Religious Affairs, led the lay participants. Deputy Consul General Benjapa Thabtong of Kolkata, Ministry of Culture officials, and Thai and Indian Buddhists attended. During the ceremony, ten Thai monks and ten international monks chanted Buddhist scriptures, offered merit dedications, conducted alms-offering rituals, and shared food with the assembled monks.
This ceremony was not merely a merit-making occasion but also a reflection on Her Highness's faith and commitment to nurturing Buddhism's connection with the sacred Buddhist lands. This bond has been evident since 2553 Buddhist Era (2010), when Thai Airways Limited organized a special merit-making flight to Bodh Gaya on the 50th anniversary occasion, with gracious royal permission from His Majesty, then as the Crown Prince, who served as the first pilot, bringing Buddhists to pay respects at the Mahabodhi Temple, the Sri Mahabodhi Tree, and the Vajrasana platform, accompanied by Princess Bajrakitiyabha and Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana—a display of royal faith that impressed both Thai and Indian Buddhists.
In 2559 Buddhist Era (2016), Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha visited Bodh Gaya again, where she meditated beneath the Sri Mahabodhi Tree within Mahabodhi Temple, the site where Buddha achieved enlightenment. She paid respects at four sacred pilgrimage sites in India and Nepal and graciously provided aid to local underprivileged communities, earning her the affectionate title "Maharani" (Great Queen) among Indians, reflecting her virtuous character, boundless compassion, and beloved status.
In June 2026, Thai monks and administrators of Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya conducted a memorial ceremony beneath the Sri Mahabodhi Tree, the very place where Her Royal Highness once meditated, reflecting the enduring respect, affection, and gratitude that Buddhists and monks in the sacred Buddhist lands continue to hold for her.
This merit-making ceremony aimed to dedicate merit, honor her royal faith, compassion, and efforts in promoting Buddhism, while reflecting the steadfast bond between Thailand and the sacred Buddhist lands that remains honored by Buddhists to this day.
