Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) recently organized a Buddhist Pilgrimage Flight to Gaya, Republic of India for merit making. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn graciously piloted this special Buddhist Pilgrimage Flight, departing Bangkok for Gaya on November 13, and attended by Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasm, Her Royal Highness Princess Bajarakitiyabha, and His Royal Highness Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti.
Piyasvasti Amranand, THAI president, said that in the spirit of THAI’s 50th anniversary, this flight carried the honorable participants to Bodhgaya, India, where Buddha attained enlightenment, and is considered to be the spiritual center for Buddhists worldwide.
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn goes through pre-flight preparations before takeoff.
THAI invited government ministers, businesses, government entities, and state enterprises to join in this Buddhist pilgrimage flight, with a total of 100 seats available for a kind contribution of up to 500,000 baht per seat. The entire net proceeds received from this Buddhist pilgrimage flight will be presented to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and will go towards His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn’s Scholarship Foundation and to His Royal Highness Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti’s Fund for Disaster Victims.
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn’s Scholarship Foundation, set up in 2009, was established to create scholarship opportunities for young Thai students with financial hardship but who attained exceptional academic performance in school and exhibited determination in learning, good behavior and morals. Qualifying students will be granted scholarships for study in high school, undergraduate university education to earn a Bachelor’s Degree or the equivalent, and through to the highest level of post-graduate study. Students who are awarded this scholarship are considered the future of Thai society, whereby there is no commitment to pay back the equivalent value of scholarship through service. Two students (one of each gender) from each province who fit the criteria will be selected. The first academic class in 2009 has 152 scholarship recipients, while the total currently throughout Thailand is at 300.
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasm, Her Royal Highness Princess Bajarakitiyabha, and His Royal Highness Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti attend Buddhist ceremonies in Bodhgaya, India.
Proceeds from the Buddhist Pilgrimage Flight also will go towards His Royal Highness Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti’s Fund for Disaster Victims, a fund established by decree of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasm, to assist those who face extreme hardship as a result of natural disasters. In the past, His Royal Highness Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti’s Fund for Disaster Victims provided medical equipment to various hospitals located on the border of Southern Thailand. As well, the fund has granted scholarships to train more nurses, whereby these nurses return to the border area of Southern Thailand to develop and improve the livelihoods of the local Thai people.
Those who contributed to this Buddhist Pilgrimage Flight took part in a significant merit making, whereby all Thais nationwide may be provided the opportunity to study medicine, public health, religion, and athletics. In addition, Thais who are affected by natural disasters will receive necessary assistance from the graciousness of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and members of the Royal Family of the Kingdom of Thailand.
