- Title: THAILAND: 108 BUDDHIST PRIESTS ON PILGRIMAGE TO BANGKOK
- Date: 26th February 1966
- Summary: PILGRIMS INTO LUMPINI PARK; PEOPLE GIVING FOOD AND FRESH ROBES TO THEM; YOUNGEST NOVICE BOONCHOTI SUDCHAI; PILGRIMS SETTING UP CAMP. Initials AA/V/MGT/SA Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 13th March 1966 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BANGKOK, THAILAND
- Country: Thailand
- Reuters ID: LVAB41FEC2PJ2CPGBFUC2OBMMVBA
- Story Text: INTO BANGKOK'S LUMPINI PARK THIS WEEK MARCHED 108 BUDDHIST PRIESTS AND NOVICES AFTER A LONG HIKE FROM THE SOUTHERN PROVINCES -A DISTANCE OF 505 MILES (816 KILOMETRES). AND THE PURPOSE OF THEIR VISIT: TO SEE THIS SIGHTS OF THAILAND'S CAPITAL. IT'S A FIRST VISIT FOR MANY OF THEM. THEY SET OUT FROM THE TIAO KOTRA TEMPLE IN NAKORN SRI THAMMARAJ, A PROVINCE ON THE SOUTHEAST COAST OF THAILAND, ON DECEMBER 31.
THEY COME FROM TEMPLES THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH. LOOKING HUNGRY AND EXHAUSTED, THEY WERE GIVEN FOOD AND FRESH ROBES BY A GATHERING OF WELCOMERS WHO HAD TURNED OUT AT THE PARK TO GREET THEM.
CAGED BIRDS WERE RELEASED TO MARK THE SAFE ARRIVAL OF THE GROUP. DURING THEIR PILGRIMAGE, THEY HAD STOPPED AT VARIOUS REMOTE AREAS TO PREACH TO THE VILLAGERS. THE TRAIL CUT THROUGH SEVEN SOUTHERN PROVINCES, AND THEY ALL CAUGHT HEAVY COLDS ON THE ARDUOUS JOURNEY.
THEY HAVE SET UP CAMP IN THE PARK WHERE THEY WILL STAY THROUGHOUT THEIR VISIT TO BANGKOK. THEY PLAN TO WALK BACK ON MARCH 7. YOUNGEST AMONG THEM IS BOONCHOTI SUDCHAI, WHO IS SEVEN YEARS OLD. ACCORDING TO HIS FELLOW PILGRIMS, HE IS THE BEST PREACHER IN THE GROUP WHICH CONSISTS OF 82 PRIEST AND 26 NOVICES.
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