World News | Relic of Buddha Loaned by China Gets Warm Welcome in Thailand

Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. More than 2,000 people took part Wednesday in a procession to escort a relic of the Buddha lent by China to a shrine in the Thai capital Bangkok to honour the birthday of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and to celebrate half a century of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China.

Representational Image (Photo Credits: LatestLY)

Bangkok, Dec 4 (AP) More than 2,000 people took part Wednesday in a procession to escort a relic of the Buddha lent by China to a shrine in the Thai capital Bangkok to honour the birthday of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and to celebrate half a century of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China.

The tooth relic, considered sacred by Buddhists, was flown in earlier in the day from the Lingguang Temple in Beijing, which normally houses it. Loans of the tooth as a show of friendship have been an effective form of soft diplomacy by China, even though competing claims from various countries on possessing the Buddha's tooth raise questions about its provenance.

Also Read | Vinesh Phogat, Pooja Sharma, Aruna Roy: All About 3 Indians Who Featured in BBC's 100 Inspiring Women List 2024.

The tooth was put in an ornate, golden container and placed on a flower-bedecked float as it was paraded through one of the oldest neighbourhoods of the city.

Attendants flanked the vehicle as it travelled about 2 1/2 kilometres to the relic's temporary home, a soaring pavilion on Sanam Luang, a large field outside Bangkok's famous Grand Palace.

Also Read | Middle East Crisis: UNGA Adopts Resolutions Urging Israel To Withdraw From 'Occupied' Territories in Palestine and Syrian Golan, Says 'Two-State Solution Only Path to Lasting Peace'.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and members of her cabinet received the relic amid the sounds of chanting monks. Representatives of China, including Beijing's ambassador to Thailand, were also present, according to local media.

The loan is the latest in a series of events to mark the 72nd birthday of the Thai king. It also commemorates the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China, which occurs next year. It was previously displayed in Thailand in 2002 to mark the 75th birthday of Vajiralongkorn's father, King Bhumibol, who died in 2016.

The relic will be on public display at the pavilion until mid-February. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)

Share Now

Share Now