On November 10, 2018, at 09.30 hours, His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun gave kathina robes to the Ministry of Labour to offer to monks for the quarterly offering ceremony 2018 at Wat Phra That Phanom in That Phanom Woramahawiharn, Nakhon Phanom. Labour Minister H.E. Police General Adul Sangsingkeo presided over the Ministry of Labour’s royal kathina robes offering ceremony for 2018, a preservation of religion and monastery and continuation of Thai traditions. Permanent Secretary of Labour Mr. Jarin Chakkaphark, executives, officials and staff within the Ministry of Labour also joined the ceremony together.
Wat Phra That Phanom Woramahawiharn is a temple of the royal monastery, whereby Phra Thepworamunee has been the abbot of the temple from 2006 to present. The temple is located on the banks of the Mekhong river, 183/13 Chayangkun Road, That Phanom, That Phanom, Nakhon Phanom. The rectangular pagoda is made of bricks, 12.33 meters wide and 53.6 meters high, with walls surroundinf the four relics. The Buddha’s breast bone is contained in the structure (3 meters high from the ground). Within the area is a big lake called That Phanom lake, where on the third lunar month to the first night of the waning moon on the third month of each year, an event is held to worship Phra That Phanom.
Wat Phra That Phanom Woramahawiharn is an ancient monument registered in 1979. The temple has antique art objects from Dvaravati (about 13th – 16th century) and is an ancient temple that is important as it is enshrined by Phra That Phanom and contains the bones (from the breast) of Lord Buddha. The temple also has many important antiquities such as the sacred wells used in royal and religious ceremonies. Nowadays, it has been developed into lodging such as houses and salas for monks. The temple also has a hall that teaches people who worship Phra That Phanom or how to dress, clean or behave when inside the temple. At present there are tourists and Buddhist people who worship and admire the beauty of the temple, and visit Rattana Moli Si Khot Bun museum.
The Ministry of Labour’s royal kathina robes offering ceremony this year totaled 3,015,217.42 Baht (three million fifteen thousand two hundred and seventeen Baht and forty-two Satang) in donations, contributing to the monk’s novices and nourishment of the royal monastery.
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Division of Public Relation / November 10, 2018 / News by Chaninthorn Phetthab, Photos by Sompop Silbut
