Bangkok: The Prime Minister led the Cabinet in making merit for the New Year (69th year), paying respects to the sacred objects at Government House. The Prime Minister and his wife, along with the Cabinet, participated in a New Year's merit-making ceremony at Government House, paying respects to the sacred objects to seek auspicious beginnings in the Year of the Golden Horse. He then offered blessings to the Thai people, wishing them a prosperous start to the year, national stability and strength, and hoping for a smooth election process and the swift implementation of policy directives.
According to Thai News Agency, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul, along with his wife, Ms. Thanon Nirami, led the Cabinet in a merit-making ceremony to celebrate the New Year 2026 at the Santi Maitri Building. Ten monks were invited to chant Buddhist prayers. Following the chanting ceremony, the Prime Minister and his wife led the Cabinet in offering alms to monks in front of the Thai Khu Fah Building.
The monks invited to perform the Buddhist chanting ceremony and participate in the alms-giving ceremony included high-ranking monks such as Somdej Phra Phutthacharn and Somdej Phra Maharatchamongkol Muni of Wat Traimit Witthayaram, Phra Phromdilok of Wat Sam Phraya, Phra Phromsiddhi of Wat Saket, as well as monks and novices from Wat Molilokaram, totaling 69 monks.
The Prime Minister and his entourage then paid respects to the sacred objects at Government House, beginning with the Brahma shrine, the spirit house, and the ancestral shrine before proceeding to pay homage to the deity Narasimha on the Thai Khu Fah building.
The Prime Minister extended New Year greetings to the Thai people for 2026, saying: "May all Thai people begin the year with auspiciousness, success, fulfillment of wishes, wealth, good health, and may Thailand be strong and stable, with a bright future for everyone."
When asked by reporters what the caretaker government most wanted to start working on or push forward this new year, the Prime Minister said that it wanted to ensure a smooth election process and to quickly achieve the goals of policies and directives that have been implemented.