PM’s Office Minister Omsin Chivapruek who oversees the National Office of Buddhism, made the invitation during a visit to the abbot at his temple. The event was described as being simple.

Omsin said the invitation was implemented according to the royal tradition. The appointment ceremony for Somdet Phra Maha Muneewong to become the Supreme Patriarch, presided over His Majesty the King, would take place at the Emerald Buddha Temple tomorrow.

The new Supreme Patriarch will perform Sangha activities at Rachbhopit Temple’s Ubosot between 9am and 10.30am and |2pm to 4pm on February 13 and 15. |People would be given an audience during that period.

Omsin said Somdet Phra Maha Muneewong asked him to thank Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for the arrangement.

“The new Supreme Patriarch is very healthy although he is now 90 years old, partly because he has good heart and does not want objects,” he said.

Meanwhile to honour the new chief of Thailand’s Buddhism, an investiture ceremony will take place at the Emerald Buddha Temple tomorrow night.

The ceremony will start at about 6pm.

At the start of the ceremony, the King will present saffron robes to senior monks from the Sangha Supreme Council (SSC). He will then light candles and incense sticks to worship the Tripitaka, after which senior monks in the Racha Khana rank will chant and grant religious precepts to the king.

The Bureau of Royal Scribes and Royal Decorations will then announce the royal command appointing the new Supreme Patriarch.

Prayers by Racha Khana-ranking monks, and then prayers by SSC members will follow.

The new Supreme Patriarch and SSC members will then take seats among a group of monastic chiefs from across the country. The King will then present the golden plate bearing the name of the Supreme Patriarch, and items associated with this important rank to the Supreme Patriarch.

Monks at the Emerald Buddha Temple will then chant blessings. The royal astrologers will sound gongs of victory and Brahmin priests will blow conch shells, with traditional music following.

At other temples in Thailand, monks will ring their bells to mark the appointment of the new Supreme Patriarch.

After the King gives alms to other monks present, he will pour ceremonial water.

The Supreme Patriarch will then sit on a main monastic throne inside the temple hall. There, he will receive offerings from senior monks, the King, Privy Council president General Prem Tinsulanonda, Prime Minister Prayut, National Legislative Assembly President Pornpetch Wichitcholchai and Supreme Court President Veerapol Tungsuwan.

The Supreme Patriarch will later proceed out of the temple hall and then accept offerings from monks of Vietnamese and Chinese sects.