Thai Foundations and Diplomats Celebrate Unesco Bid for Renowned Monk Kru Ba Sri Wichai
A ceremony was held by local religious foundations and Thais to celebrate a sculpture of the revered monk Kru Ba Sri Wichai as part of a campaign to add him to Unesco's list of eminent personalities.
The event was led by the Achan Warin Buawilatlert Foundation, the Khuang Phrachao Lanna Foundation, and the Committee of the Upper Northern Region's Senates Meet People project.
Attendees included staff from over 10 embassy and consular offices, such as Sri Lanka, Nepal, and India.
Warin Buawilatlert, chairman of both foundations, stated that the ceremony was a part of the proposed campaign for the monk's inclusion in Unesco's list.
The text describes how embassy representatives were given sculptures, amulets, and Buddhist scriptures of the late Thai monk Kru Ba Sri Wichai to be housed in their respective countries.
Kru Ba Sri Wichai is the third Thai monk proposed for UNESCO status, following Kromma Phra Paramanuchitchinorot in 1990 and Buddhadasa in 2005.
The UNESCO proposal is planned to be submitted in 2026 to commemorate the monk's 150th birth anniversary in 2028.
The foundations are currently gathering information about the monk to submit to the government.
Kru Ba Sri Wichai, born in 1878 in Lamphun's Li district, became a monk at age 21 after being a novice for three years.
He was renowned for his vegetarian diet, abstinence from smoking and drinking, and solitary forest prayers.
He led villagers in renovating old temples and pagodas in the North.
After his death in 1939, his relics were divided into seven parts and distributed among northern provinces to encourage pilgrimages.
Attendees included staff from over 10 embassy and consular offices, such as Sri Lanka, Nepal, and India.
Warin Buawilatlert, chairman of both foundations, stated that the ceremony was a part of the proposed campaign for the monk's inclusion in Unesco's list.
The text describes how embassy representatives were given sculptures, amulets, and Buddhist scriptures of the late Thai monk Kru Ba Sri Wichai to be housed in their respective countries.
Kru Ba Sri Wichai is the third Thai monk proposed for UNESCO status, following Kromma Phra Paramanuchitchinorot in 1990 and Buddhadasa in 2005.
The UNESCO proposal is planned to be submitted in 2026 to commemorate the monk's 150th birth anniversary in 2028.
The foundations are currently gathering information about the monk to submit to the government.
Kru Ba Sri Wichai, born in 1878 in Lamphun's Li district, became a monk at age 21 after being a novice for three years.
He was renowned for his vegetarian diet, abstinence from smoking and drinking, and solitary forest prayers.
He led villagers in renovating old temples and pagodas in the North.
After his death in 1939, his relics were divided into seven parts and distributed among northern provinces to encourage pilgrimages.
Translation:
Translated by AI
