On 9 May 2026, Ambassador Arunrung Phothong Humphreys assigned Minister Consellor Pittara Navarat, together with Counsellor Nattamon Punbhochar (Consul), Second Secretary Nilobol Kobkue, and Ms. Pinlak Ketchom, local staff of the Royal Thai Embassy in Stockholm, to attend the Songkran festival at Wat Buddhabhavana Västerås, alongside members of the Thai community in Sweden who gathered to preserve Thai traditions and support Buddhism.

The event featured Buddhist chanting, merit-making and alms-giving, the offering of food to monks, and a communal luncheon, as well as Thai cultural performances by youth and elderly members of the Thai and Swedish community.

On this occasion, Minister Counsellor Pittara presented awards to the performers in recognition of their participation and to encourage the preservation of Thai arts and culture.

In addition, the programme included a procession of Buddha images and Songkran beauty queens around the temple community. Participants dressed in traditional Thai attire to help promote Thai culture and also took part in the ceremonial pouring of water over Buddha images, the bathing of monks, and the traditional water-pouring rite to pay respect to elders for good fortune. Other activities included sand pagoda building and Songkran water celebrations as well as Thai food and craft stalls, reflecting the strength and unity of the Thai community in Sweden.