BANGKOK, THAILAND, April 11, 2006: Sacred river waters of India will be brought to Thailand next week on April 21 as part of national celebrations to mark the Thai king’s 60th anniversary on the throne in June. Water from the Ganges, Yamuna, Saraswati, Saryu and Gomati rivers will be brought by the Thai government’s Religious Affairs department and Hindu organizations in Thailand, said religious affairs department Director-General Preecha Kantiya. Monarchs from 28 countries will attend the special event on June 12 and 13, marking 60 years of the accession of King Bumibol Adulyadej. He is the world’s longest ruling monarch. A priest from the Thai royal household bureau will travel to India to collect the holy water from Indian priests, the official said. After the religious ceremonies the water will be collected by the Hindu Samaj Association and taken to Hindu temples in Bangkok where Buddhists also worship. “Thai and Indian priests will jointly conduct the rituals,” said Preecha. The holy water will be presented to the King on May 5, the coronation day. Although Buddhism is the national religion, Thai culture and religious beliefs carry the imprint of significant elements of Hinduism.
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