Prime Minister Anutin presided over the Buddhist chanting ceremony and almsgiving to dedicate merit on the occasion of the 99th birthday of the Supreme Patriarch.
At 07:00 on 26 June 2026, Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Office of the Prime Minister, announced that Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul and his wife presided over the Buddhist chanting and almsgiving ceremony to honor the 99th birthday of Somdet Phra Ariyavongsagatanana, the Supreme Patriarch. The event was attended by Cabinet members, heads of independent organizations, military and police commanders, senior civil servants at permanent secretary level or equivalent, and representatives from government agencies at Wat Ratchabophit Sathitmahasimaram in Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok.
Upon arrival at Wat Ratchabophit Sathitmahasimaram, the Prime Minister and his wife paid homage at the statue of King Chulalongkorn by presenting garlands and lighting gold-colored offerings. They then proceeded inside the ordination hall to light incense and candles in worship of the Triple Gem, offer gold-colored offerings before the portrait of Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, and also before the portrait of Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebayavadi, the Princess Royal.
Next, the Prime Minister paid respect to Somdet Phra Ariyavongsagatanana, the Supreme Patriarch, along with 10 senior monks, who then administered the precepts and led the Buddhist chanting.
The Prime Minister and his wife, along with the Speaker of the House, the President of the Supreme Court, the President of the Senate, heads of independent organizations, and royal office representatives, presented robes and traditional offerings to the 10 monks. The monks gave their blessings, after which the Prime Minister poured water in a merit-making ritual and paid respects before the portraits of Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, and Princess Bajrakitiyabha, and then paid homage to the Supreme Patriarch.
After the chanting ceremony concluded, the Supreme Patriarch proceeded to the area in front of the ordination hall and offered alms to monks. Subsequently, the senior monks and monks from the ordination program under the Supreme Patriarch’s patronage, numbering 108, walked to receive alms to dedicate merit to Princess Bajrakitiyabha. The Prime Minister, his wife, and attendees collectively offered alms in unison to dedicate merit.
