Thousands of people from across the country flocked to Bali Hai pier for
the merit making ceremony.
Pratchaya Kerdthong
Hundreds of Buddhists from around Thailand converged
on Bali Hai Pier to pray and donate funds toward construction of the
world’s largest Buddha statue, planned for Chaiyaphum Province.
Monk Tipakorn Rinthaisong, chairman of the Phra Yai
Chaiyaphum (Big Buddha Chaiyaphum) Foundation, led the March 24
merit-making ceremony at Bali Hai Pier.
The foundation’s goal is to cast a brass image of
Buddha that is 199 meters tall with a base 99 meters wide. Estimated to
cost 10 billion baht (about 333 million US dollars), the statue would
sit in Nafaai Sub-district with a mission to protect the earth and its
inhabitants.
Once funds are collected, construction is estimated
to take seven years.
The Bali Hai ceremony saw devotees reach into their
pockets to help fund the foundation of the statue. They also prayed to
the three jewels of Buddhism and joined in dance and music.
Thailand is already home to the world’s largest
Buddha statue. But Phuket’s 45-meter-tall, 25-meter-wide “Phra
Puttamingmongkol Akenakkiri Buddha” would pale in comparison to the
planned Chaiyaphum figure. Construction is still ongoing, with costs
already reaching 120 million baht.
