Thai temple receives UNESCO cultural heritage award

BANGKOK, April 24 (TNA) - An old Thai temple in Bangkok's Thonburi side has honourably received a regional cultural heritage award from the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The Thai temple, Prayurawongsawas Worawihan Temple, also known as Wat Prayoon, has officially been presented the Award of Excellence 2013 from the UNESCO in the category of Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. His Holiness Somdet Phra Buddhachinawong, together with Privy Councilor General Surayuth Chulanonda and Abbot of the Prayurawongsawas Worawihan Temple Most Venerable Phra Brahmapundit, received the 2013 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation at a ceremony held at the temple on April 23, 2014 for the restoration of the temple's Phra Borommathat Maha Chedi and Pharin Pariyattithammasala. The prestige award was presented by UNESCO Bangkok Director Dr. Gwang-Jo Kim to recognise the conservation effort of the temple’s principal stupa and its attached hall, the Pharin Pariyattithammasala. Apart from the special award presentation ceremony, an event is also held at the temple from April 23-26, 2014, from day till night times, to celebrate the auspicious occasion. The construction of the bell-shaped reliquar Phra Borommathat Maha Chedi was completed during the reign of King Rama IV of the present Chakri Dynasty, having, since then, become the largest and highest pagoda in Thailand's present Rttanakosin Era and has been used as a Dhamma school for Buddhist monks and novices and a Dhamma museum for the general public. (TNA)