Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday attended a performance of Ramakien, the Thai adaptation of the Indian epic Ramayana, during his visit to Thailand.
The performance was led by Ekkalak Nu-ngoen and a group of students from the Faculty of Music and Drama at the Bunditpatanasilpa Institute in Thailand. The retelling of the epic was presented through a unique fusion of two classical dance forms—India’s Bharatanatyam and Thailand’s Khon, showcasing the deep cultural ties between the two nations.
The Ramayana holds a special place in both Indian and Thai traditions. While in India, Lord Rama is revered as the Prince of Ayodhya, in the Thai adaptation, he is known as Phra Ram. Despite the differences in names and presentation, both versions uphold the same values of sacrifice, duty, devotion, and the ultimate triumph of good over evil, reflecting the shared cultural heritage of the two countries.
During PM Modi’s visit, Thailand’s Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lalivan Karnchanachari, expressed enthusiasm about his presence. “We welcome PM Modi to our beautiful country as he is here to attend the BIMSTEC meeting. The performance was a perfect blend of Indian and Thai cultures, and we hope the Prime Minister enjoys his time here,” she said.
One of the performers also shared their excitement about presenting Ramakien before the Indian leader. “We are very happy to perform Ramayana and Ramakien, combining Thai classical dance with Bharatanatyam, in front of the Prime Minister and other distinguished guests,” the artist said.
Earlier in the day, as he arrived at his hotel in Bangkok, PM Modi witnessed a Garba performance and received a warm welcome from the Indian diaspora and local Indian community members.
Looking ahead, PM Modi expressed enthusiasm for participating in official engagements at the BIMSTEC Leaders’ Summit in Bangkok. Upon his arrival at the airport, he was received by Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Suriya Jungrungreangkit. He later shared pictures from the airport, where he was seen interacting with members of the Indian community, who greeted him with excitement and warmth.
(Inputs from ANI)
