The Consecration Ceremony of the Stupa at Wat Bowonniwet Vihara, 2008

On April 29, 2008, at 3:00 p.m., Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the consecration ceremony of the stupa at Wat Bowonniwet Vihara in Bangkok. The ceremony also included the installation of the tiered umbrella atop the principal Buddha image in the Rangsri Ubosot. This event symbolized the flourishing of Buddhism and reflected the traditional interconnection between Buddhism, the Thai monarchy and national culture. The consecration was part of a broader renovation of the stupa, ubosot, vihara and the sacred Buddha image of Phra Srisasada, dedicated as a royal merit to King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX). Furthermore, the issuance of commemorative ordination coins (2008 edition) supported the restoration works, linking this ceremony to the historical series of ordination coins first created in 1965. The event stands as a significant testimony to the enduring relationship between Thai Buddhism and the monarchy in modern history.