A large gathering of devotees attended the worship ceremony at Phra Thaen Sila At and the longevity merit-making event honoring the renowned monk, the Dhammayut provincial chief of Uttaradit, who also spotted auspicious incense revealing "lucky numbers" to try their luck.
On 22 Jan 2026 GMT+7, at the ceremonial grounds in front of the main viharn at Phra Thaen Sila At Royal Monastery, Laplae District, Uttaradit Province, many local Buddhists from Uttaradit flocked to join the merit-making ceremony celebrating the 60th birthday and 40th monastic anniversary of Venerable Vinai Sathorn (Thawin Thavaro), the Dhammayut provincial chief of Uttaradit and abbot of Phra Thaen Sila At Royal Monastery.
The ceremony featured offerings including traditional bai sri arrangements, various fruits, fruit juices, and desserts fully arranged at the ceremonial area. Phra Kru Wathee Patchar Sophon (Rachan Ariyo), assistant abbot of Wat Mahathat Royal Monastery in Phetchabun Province, a famous monk and renowned preacher both domestically and internationally, presided over the rituals honoring Phra Thaen Sila At.
They also performed rites to honor and notify the 16 celestial deities of the heavens, 15 layers of earth, 14 subterranean levels, sacred spirits in heaven and the underworld, including Mother Earth and Mother River goddesses, inviting them to bless and rejoice in the ceremony. The ritual aimed to open the way for blessings and fortune, seek forgiveness from sacred spirits, call on deities to assist, and dedicate merit to those who contributed to the temple.
Following this, the merit-making ceremony celebrated the 60th birthday and 40th monastic anniversary of Venerable Vinai Sathorn, with monks chanting Buddhist scriptures together.
Phra Kru Wathee Patchar Sophon (Rachan Ariyo), assistant abbot of Wat Mahathat Royal Monastery in Phetchabun and a famous monk, distributed a 100-pound strawberry cream cake to Buddhists and disciples attending for auspicious blessings.
Venerable Vinai Sathorn (Thawin Thavaro) received his ecclesiastical rank in 2007 CE as a certified monk and abbot of a first-class royal monastery under the royal title Phra Kru Thaworn Thammakowit. On 5 Dec 2011 CE, he was appointed a monastic dignitary of the third class royal rank with the title Phra Vinai Sathorn.
After the ceremony concluded, attendees observed the numbers appearing in the fortune-telling incense smoke lit during the ritual to use as their lucky numbers for the lottery draw on 1 Feb 2026 GMT+7, which showed the number 709.
Afterwards, the public joined in paying respects to Phra Thaen Sila At, believed to be an important ancient and sacred site in Thailand located within Phra Thaen Sila At Temple, Uttaradit Province. It is said to be where the Buddha once sat. Legend holds that anyone who pays homage to Phra Thaen Sila At three times in their lifetime will be reborn in heaven, as it is considered a great accumulation of merit and the highest respect to the Buddha.