PM leads prayer, meditation ceremony beneath Mahabodhi Tree

BODH GAYA, INDIA, June 18 (TNA) -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha on Saturday travelled to Bodh Gaya and chaired in a prayer and meditation ceremony beneath the Mahabodhi Tree at the Mahabodhi Temple and made merits on the occasion of the 70th Anniversary Celebration of His Majesty the King’s accession to the throne and the 7th cycle Birthday Anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen. Accompanied by his wife, ministers and high-ranking officers, Gen Prayut on his last day of the three-day official visit to India led the ceremony beneath the Mahabodhi Tree, which was the Lord Buddha’s enlightenment site. The prime minister and his accompanied delegates later travelled to the Thai Temple in Bodh Gaya in Bihar state and poured water on Bodhi Tree, planted by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in 1987. They also offered alms and lunch to nine Buddhist monks, and visited a Lord Buddha Hospital. Gen Prayut and his entourage later boarded a special Royal Thai Air Force plane at the international airport in Gaya for home. They are scheduled to arrive Bangkok at 4.50pm. (TNA)