Royal Thai Embassy, Washington, D.C. helps arrange Vesak Day celebration in the White House

On 5 May 2023, the White House hosted the annual Vesak celebration at the Indian Treaty Room in collaboration with foreign embassies in the U.S. with large Buddhist population, including Thailand, and the International Buddhist Association of America (IBAA). The ceremony was presided over by Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff and attended by monks from different sects.

On this occasion, Ambassador Tanee Sangrat invited Phramaha Thawin Puhkao from Wat Buddha Thai Thavorn Vanaram (New York), Phrakhru Sirithammavidhes from Wat Yarnna Rangsee Buddhist Monastery (Washington, D.C.), Phrakhru Sakda from Wat Tummaprateip (Washington D.C.), and Phramaha Ruangrit from Wat Thai Washington D.C., to take part in this holy celebration. Phramaha Thawin Puhkao also delivered brief remarks titled “Wisdom and Resilient” to commemorating this special event while the Ambassador joined other Ambassadors in lighting the candles to pay respect to the Lord Buddha.

This ceremony has been organized for three consecutive years by the White House since 2021 with the continued participation of the Second Gentlemen. In his remarks this year, Mr. Douglas Emhoff emphasized harmony and peaceful co-existence between different races and religions.

Foreign embassies which collaborated in the organization of this event comprised the Royal Thai Embassy, the Embassy of Sri Lanka, the Embassy of Cambodia, the Embassy of Nepal, the Embassy of India, the Embassy of Indonesia, and the Embassy of Mongolia.