On 26 October 2013, Mr. Vasin Teeravechyan, Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, presided over the Offering Ceremony of the Royal Kathin Robe, graciously bestowed by His Majesty the King through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to the congregation of monks at Bauddhajana Vihara, Patan, Nepal.

           On this occasion, over 300 people including Phra Maha Suphot Kittiwanno from the Royal Thai Monastery, Lumbini; Mrs. Kanthong Unakul, Thai Ambassador to Nepal and the officials from the Royal Thai Embassy, Kathmandu; representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand; representatives from Thai Airways International Public Co.,Ltd in Kathmandu and around 300 Thai community as well as members of the press and Nepalese people attended the said event.  Also present at the ceremony were abbots from other Buddhist temples in Nepal.

           The offering of the Royal Kathin Robes in Patan, Nepal aims to strengthen cordial relations between the two countries, especially at the people-to-people level.  For Buddhists, Nepal is one of the important countries, as Lumbini is the birthplace of Buddha.  Most of the Theravada monks in Nepal are related to Thailand where situated the temples they were ordained or the Sangha Universities they were graduated from.

           The ceremony this year was held successfully.  The benevolence of His Majesty the King as the upholder of religions, not only in Thailand but also abroad as in Nepal, is well recognized by monks and participants of the Royal Kathin Robe Offering Ceremony from both countries.  The donation by His Majesty the King and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the Thai and Nepalese Buddhists totaled 237,440 Baht (approximately 712,320 Nepalese Rupee).