The Thai Royal Family is officially Buddhist, but their traditions, coronation rituals, and royal symbols are heavily influenced by Hinduism. Thai kings are considered upholders of Buddhism but are also viewed as Devaraja (god-kings), often embodying the Hindu deity Vishnu or Rama. The monarchy employs Royal Brahmins to conduct these rituals.
The new king of Thailand took charge of the country as King Rama X, after an elaborate coronation ceremony in Bangkok on 13th May 2019. King Vajiralongkorn is considered to be the upholder of Buddhism in Thailand, but is designated as Rama, a Hindu god.
Hinduism in Thailand is a minority religion followed by 29,900 (0.04%) of the population as of 2020. Despite being a Buddhist-majority nation, Thailand has a very strong Hindu influence. The majority of Thai Hindus reside in Bangkok, Chonburi, and Phuket.
With the introduction of Brahmanism-Hinduism and Buddhism in the region, most Thais incorporate Pali and Sanskrit into their names. Contact with the West also brought about the addition of surname into Thai laws.
Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) has had four wives, with his current wife being Queen Suthida, whom he married in 2019, though he also appointed and later reinstated a royal consort, Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi, creating a complex marital situation. His previous wives were Princess Soamsawali, Yuvadhida Polpraserth (who was divorced and disowned), and Srirasmi Suwadee (who was stripped of titles).
Unlike corporate tycoons, his fortune stems from centuries-old monarchy assets, real estate, and strategic holdings in major Thai corporations. King Vajiralongkorn's extraordinary wealth reflects not just personal affluence, but the enduring financial power of Thailand's royal institution.
Tanutchai was born in Bangkok, Thailand to a Thai-Chinese father and a Thai-Indian mother. He is the third child among his siblings, one of which is Chalida Vijitvongthong (Mint), an actress and model.
Buddhists are allowed to marry people of different religions. There is no Buddhist doctrine that prohibits interfaith marriage. In fact, interfaith marriages are quite common in various Buddhist cultures.
The seals represented four gods: Shiva (known in Thailand as Phra Isuan), Vishnu (Phra Narai), Brahma (Phra Phrom) and Indra (Phra In). The first three belong strictly to the Hindu Trimurti (or Trinity) and the last is a popular king of the gods in Buddhism.
Asian A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.
For the Muslim traveller, Thailand is one of the most Muslim-friendly travel destinations. Muslim tourists account for almost 10% of tourism and the number is increasing.
Buddhism is the predominant religion in Thailand. It is practised by more than 90% of the total population and is deeply influenced by Hinduism, with most Siamese Thai people revering major Hindu deities in their day to day religious practices.
The present Thai royal family, the Chakri dynasty, was founded by King Rama I who himself was partly Chinese. His predecessor, King Taksin of the Thonburi Kingdom, was the son of a Chinese father from Chaoshan.
After India, the next nine countries with the largest Hindu populations are, in decreasing order: Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the United States, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
When visiting Thailand, do respect the monarchy, dress modestly (especially at temples), remove shoes before entering homes/temples, use the wai greeting, keep voices down, and embrace the "mai pen rai" (no worries) attitude; don't touch people's heads, point feet at people or Buddha images, show public affection, raise your voice, disrespect Buddha images, or get into taxis without a meter.
In Thailand, the legal drinking age is 20. The Alcoholic Beverage Control Act of 2008 increased the drinking age in Thailand from 18 to 20, private drinking is not regulated in private locations.
Hinduism, also known as Sanatana Dharma, is not just popular in India, but many Hollywood stars also follow Hindu traditions and rituals. Prominent names like Sylvester Stallone, Julia Roberts, and Will Smith are ardent followers of Hinduism. Apart from them, actor Robert Downey Jr is a firm believer in Hinduism.
Red Bull co-owner Chalerm Yoovidhya is the richest person in Thailand this year with a net worth of US$44.5 billion, followed by the CP Group's Chearavanont brothers with $35.7 billion, according to Forbes magazine.
