In a symbolic gesture of cultural significance, Thailand is sending soil to the Ramjanmabhoomi ahead of the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. This follows the earlier gesture of sending water from two rivers in Thailand to Lord Ram’s temple, aiming to strengthen cultural ties between Thailand and India. Swami Vigyanananand, founder and global chairman of the World Hindu Foundation (WHF), revealed this unique connection in an exclusive conversation with ANI.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), led by Susheelkumar Saraff, President of the Thailand chapter of VHP, initiated the sending of soil from Thailand to the sacred site of Ram Janmabhoomi. Swami Vigyanananand highlighted that this collaboration goes beyond soil and reflects the strong cultural and historical bond between India and Thailand. He mentioned that every king in Thailand belonging to Lord Ram’s descendants is a tradition, and the initiative aims to further enhance cultural ties.
Expressing delight over the scheduled consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, 2024, Swami Vigyanananand shared that the ceremony would be telecast live in Bangkok. Hindus worldwide are expected to converge at the event, participating in kirtans, bhajans, puja, and recitation.
The sending of soil from Thailand is part of the preparations for the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla. Swami Vigyanananand and Susheelkumar Saraff plan to be present in Ayodhya during the ceremony.
In a historical context, Ayutthaya, a famous city in Thailand, was known as Ayodhya, where its kings bore the title of ‘Ramatibodhi’ (“Lord Rama”). The city has a rich Hindu cultural heritage and is linked to the context in which Ayodhya is mentioned as the capital of Lord Rama in the Ramayana.