Culture Ministry to host new year celebration at 25 temples

Religious Affairs Department chief Sod Daeng-ied said on Thursday that Buddhist families could pray, meditate, receive Buddhist monks' blessing and hit an auspicious gong to welcome the new year at 25 Bangkok temples or upcountry temples that participated in the scheme. The participated Bangkok temples included Wat Ratchathiwat, Wat Chanasongkhram, Wat Trimitr Wittayaram, Wat Pak Nam, Wat Thep Lila, Wat Yannawa, Wat Thepsirin and Wat Phrasrimahathat.

Culture Minister Khunying Khaisri Sriaroon also urged Thai youths to give food offerings to a Buddhist monk to make merit for their ancestors or deceased relatives in the morning of the New Year Day and to worship Lord Buddha's image and release birds or fish at a temple. She also urged them to participate in a pray and a sermon at a temple in the evening.

The Nation