Buddha’s Tooth Relic Arrives in Bangkok for 73-Day Public Worship.

Bangkok: The government organized a grand ceremony to invite the Buddha's tooth relic. The sacred relic of the Buddha's tooth from the People's Republic of China has been temporarily enshrined at Sanam Luang today, with a grand procession before it opens for public worship tomorrow (5 Dec), the first day, for a total of 73 days until 14 Feb next year. According to Thai News Agency, the procession carrying the sacred tooth relic has arrived at the royal ceremonial ground at Sanam Luang. It is beautiful and grand. Thai, Chinese, and foreign Buddhists are waiting to welcome the procession and pay homage to the sacred tooth relic along the way. For the ceremony of inviting the relics of the Buddha (the crystal tooth) from the People's Republic of China to be temporarily enshrined at the Sanam Luang ceremonial ground to honor His Majesty the King on the occasion of His Majesty's 6th cycle birthday anniversary on July 28, 2024, and on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Thai-Chinese diplo matic relations in 2025. This evening, there were 24 grand processions. The procession carrying the sacred relic (Buddha's tooth relic) was the 19th procession. It started from Phlap Phla Maha Jessada Bodin to the ceremonial ground at Sanam Luang, a distance of 2.7 kilometers. Many people wearing white and yellow shirts paid their respects along the route that the procession passed. When the procession reached the pavilion, the head of the Chinese delegation, Mr. Chen Ruifeng, Minister of the National Religious Affairs Office, gave a speech presenting the sacred relic and Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister and Chair of the ceremony, gave a speech accepting the sacred relic (Buddha's tooth relic). After that, Somdet Phra Ariyawongsakattaya Somdet Phra Sangharaja Sakol Maha Sanghaparinayok, the president of the Thai and Chinese monks, along with the executives from the Thai and Chinese sides, lined up to welcome His Majesty and went to the pavilion to lead a candlelight procession around the pavilion . This was considered a great auspicious occasion and a continuation of the long-standing friendship between Thailand and China through Buddhist relations. The Thai government and the government of the People's Republic of China therefore jointly agreed to invite the relics of the Buddha (the Glass Tooth Relic) from the Lingguang Temple in Beijing, the People's Republic of China, to be temporarily enshrined in Thailand on this occasion. And tomorrow (December 5), the public will be able to pay homage to the Buddha's relics (the Emerald Buddha's tooth) for the first time, from 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Sanam Luang Ceremonial Ground until February 14, 2025. The public does not need to bring their own flowers, as officials have prepared flowers for paying homage. In addition, people will receive postcards with prayers to pay homage to the Buddha's relics (the Emerald Buddha's tooth) as souvenirs. This is the second time in 22 years that the Buddha's tooth relic has been brought from China to Thailand. It wa s first brought to Buddha Monthon in 2002. The Buddha's tooth relic, brought from Lingguang Temple in Beijing, is considered important because it is a relic of the Buddha. The Buddha's tooth relic is one of only two that exist in the world.