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The Royal Kathina Ceremony

On 25 October 2008, Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai, President of the Saranrom Institute of Foreign Affairs Foundation (SIFA Foundation) led the Thai delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (including officials from the Department of Information, the Department of South Asian, Middle East and African Affairs, along with the Board of Governors, Administrators, and officials of the Saranrom Institute of Foreign Affairs--SIFA), the Bureau of the Royal Household of Thailand, and the media to offer the Royal Kathina Robes graciously bestowed by the King of Thailand in the Royal Kathina Ceremony at Sirikitti Viharn Monastery, Kirtipur, the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.

Before the beginning of the ceremony, approximately 300-400 Buddhist and Hindu Nepalese greeted the delegation, lining up along the street to the Monastery. At 9.30 hours, Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai presented Buddhist monks with the Royal Kathina Robes, along with royal donation, a donation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other donations to the Monastery for social development.

This event marked the first time the Royal Kathina Robes were offered in Nepal. Diplomats, politicians, former ministers, and leading businessmen, including the Vice-President of the Nepal-Thailand Friendship Cooperation Society, the President of Elite Nepal, the President of the Nepal-Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industries, and the General Manager of Thai Airways, etc. also participated in the ceremony.

After the ceremony, on 26 October 2008, Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai, together with Mr. Norachit Sinhaseni, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Sorajak Kasemsuvan, and Prof. Dr. Chumporn Pachusanond, as members of the SIFA Board of Governors, made a courtesy call to the Right Honorable Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Foreign Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, Mr.Upendra Yadav.

It was a successful event which received a lot of public attention, warm welcome, and cooperation from the government and the people of Nepal. The Royal Kathina Ceremony helped in promoting Buddhism as well as enhancing religious and cultural ties between peoples of the two countries.