Bangkok Bank presented the Royal Kathin 2020 to Wat Mahachai, a Buddhist temple under royal patronage in the northeastern province of Mahasarakham. This marks the 54th year of upholding this tradition to preserve the Buddhist culture through concerted efforts of the government and private sectors. The Bank renovated both interior and exterior parts of the temple as well as the Northeastern Local Culture Museum and built new bathrooms for the temple.
At 10.00 a.m., Sunday October 11, 2020, Bangkok Bank presented the Royal Kathin in 2020 to Wat Mahachai, a Buddhist temple under royal patronage in the northeastern province of Mahasarakham, the 54th time the Bank has presented the Royal Kathin. This year, the ceremony was presided over by Bangkok Bank Executive Chairman Deja Tulananda and accompanied by Director Singh Tangtatswas, Director Amorn Chandarasomboon, Director Pichet Durongkaveroj, Director and Senior Executive Vice President Suvarn Thansathit, Director Charumporn Jotikasthira, Director and Executive Vice President Dr. Thaweelap Rittapirom, and Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary Apichart Ramyarupa.
Bangkok executives and staff as well as Mahasarakham Governor Kiattisak Trongsiri, civil servants, representatives of government sector, and local people joined the ceremony. Bangkok Bank, its directors, executives and staff, customers and the general public donated 13,675,306 baht to the temple.
Bangkok Bank was the first financial institution to be honored with the commission of taking the Royal Kathin to temples under royal patronage in all regions in Thailand and to other temples in neighboring countries. The Bank began presenting the Royal Kathin to temples in 1967 and 2020 was the 54th year of upholding this tradition to preserve the Buddhist culture.
Wat Mahachai was formally called “Wat Nua”. The temple was established in 1865 in the reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV) by Phra Charoen Ratchadet (Kuad), the first ruler of Mahasarakham, and the people of Mahasarakham, as the city temple. It is located on an area of 10 rai, 3 ngan, 82 square wah. The temple’s first abbot was Phraya Kru Suwannee Srisangworn while Phra Thep Sitthachan (Noi Yannawuthot), the dean of Maha Sarakham Abbot of Wat Mahachai, Phra Aram Luang, is the current abbot.
In 1929, the Chao Khun Phra Sarakham Muni (Saraphut Phawaphutanon Na Mahasakham), the monk dean of Maha Sarakham province and the abbot of the temple at that time requested to change the name from Wat Nua to "Wat Mahachai Mahasarakham" in order to be geographically and historically accurate. On February 23, 1984, Mahachai Temple received His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s grace to raise its status to be an ordinary third-class royal monastery under the Mahanikai. HM the King also graciously gave the Kathin robes to government offices, ministries, and departments to present to monks every year.
In 1966, Chao Khun Phra Ariyanuwat (Aree Khemjari), the senior Thera highly respected by the Mahasarakham people, whose dedication to education and religion led him to be regarded as "Philosopher of the Isan region" worked on the construction of the Sarakhamuni Hall as a monument containing relics and enshrining the statue of Chao Khun Phra Sarakham Muni. He was proficient in ancient languages and able to read and write Khmer, Lao and Thai Noi scripts. He also collected stories about Isan traditions and local literature from ancient scriptures and various documents. He founded the Northeastern Literature Conservation Center or the Northeastern Local Culture Museum at Mahachai Temple to be a source of research for those interested in the Northeastern culture.
Bangkok Bank allocated approximately 7.5 million baht for merit-making, divided into 7.2 million baht for the restoration of both interior and exterior parts of Mahachai Temple’s Ubosot, such as repairing the roof structure, Chor Fa Bai Raka and Hang Hong; painting both interior and exterior parts of the Ubosot; making granite floor inside the Ubosot and balcony outside; fixing the floor around the Ubosot; gilding the Buddha image and making a Chukchi base; and renovating a Buddha statue in front of the Ubosot, as well as renovating the Northeastern Local Culture Museum with the temple area; and building new bathrooms for the temple. Last but not least, the Bank donated nearly 300,000 baht to hospitals, schools, as well as clubs and foundations in the province.