TUMPAT, Kelantan, Malaysia — On 6 November 2026, Mr. Chettaphan Maksamphan, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Thailand, presided over the presentation of the Royal Kathina Robes, graciously bestowed by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua, at Wat Machimmaram in Tumpat District, Kelantan.

The offering, now in its 14th year and its 22nd ceremony in Malaysia, drew Thai and Malaysian Buddhists, the Siamese community of Kelantan and foreign residents to one of the state’s most important temples. It also underlined the long cultural bond between Thailand and Malaysia.

A ceremony led by senior monks

Phra Phisan Samanakit, Chief Monastic Leader of Kelantan, presided on the Sangha side. He was joined by Phra Khru Udomdhamapatiphan, Chief Monastic Leader of Terengganu and Pahang, Phra Samuh Chai Irantamo, Abbot of Wat Machimmaram, and other monks.

Who attended

Representing Kelantan was Mr. Lim Guan Seng, Special Tasks Officer for Inter-Ethnic Relations to the Chief Minister of Kelantan. Thai officials included Mr. Phasit Chudabuddhi, Consul-General in Kota Bharu; Mr. Anan Pikultipsakorn, Minister at the Royal Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur; and Mrs. Maratee Nalita Andamo, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information.

Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kota Bharu, the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre and government agencies in Narathiwat Province also took part, alongside representatives of the Siam Kelantan Association.

Donations: faith expressed in numbers

The Royal Kathina offering gathered contributions from His Majesty the King, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Thai and Malaysian devotees. Donations totalled 342,900 baht and 2,221 ringgit, or roughly 42,927 ringgit combined.

A temple with more than 400 years of history

Wat Machimmaram is a Theravada Buddhist temple with a history spanning more than 400 years. Malaysia’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture recognises it as one of the four important temples of Kelantan.

The temple houses Phra Buddha Barameedharm Chamrat Lok, a 30-metre Buddha image in the Maravijaya posture. The name was graciously bestowed by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great.

“The temple serves as an important centre for Buddhist activities, Thai language and Buddhist studies, as well as community welfare initiatives.”

The temple previously received the Royal Kathina Robes from King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 2009. As part of the Kathina tradition, laypeople present robes and offerings to monks after the Buddhist rains retreat.

Thirty years of royal Kathina diplomacy

Since 1995, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has presented Royal Kathina Robes annually at Buddhist temples abroad. The programme began with neighbouring countries and has expanded to ASEAN members, South Asia and East Asia, focusing on temples revered by local Buddhists.

In 2026 the robes are being presented in six countries: Malaysia, India, Viet Nam, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.

Culture as diplomacy

The project forms part of Thailand’s cultural and public diplomacy, aimed at strengthening international relations, particularly people-to-people ties, through shared Buddhist traditions. In Kelantan, home to the Orang Siam community, that message carries local meaning.