THE
NATION August 1, 2015
MORE THAN three months have
passed since a devastating earthquake hit Nepal yet Thais are still
continuing their efforts to raise funds and provide necessities for
the victims of the tremblor, the worst natural disaster to hit the
country since 1934.
Hundreds of thousands of people were left homeless by the quake
with entire villages flattened across many districts of the country
and centuries-old buildings destroyed at Unesco World Heritage
sites in the Kathmandu Valley.
One of the latest initiatives to be organised was "Krua Khun Toi to
the World Buddhist Kitchen for Nepal 2015". The brainchild of
Anurut Wongwanich, president of the World Buddhist Kitchen for
Nepal 2015, it was put together with the help of the World
Fellowship of Buddhists, the World Fellowship of Buddhist Youth,
Dharmmodaya Sabha, the Young Buddhist Association of Thailand, the
Bangkok Photographic Society, Holiday Farmer Networks and "Krua
Khun Toi", a popular food-and-cooking TV show that airs on Channel
3.
Twenty-nine restaurants contributed to the food fair, among them Je
Ngor's Kitchen, Ped Palo Nine Nub, Pot Ministry, Royal Dragon,
Nittaya Kai Yang, Louis Leeman and Le Pla Daak, which was held at
EmQuartier Shopping Complex in June.
Souvenirs were distributed to participants who also got to enjoy a
photo exhibition titled "After the Earthquake". Net proceeds
totalled Bt3 million and an additional Bt7 million was donated by
the World Buddhist Kitchen.
Last month Petcharee Promchuay and Saifon Cheechang, presenters of
Channel 3's "Toh Khao Bantoeng" and "Krob Krua Kao" respectively,
led a group of Thais to Nepal to present the funds and relief items
to those in need.
From Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, they were first
taken to Patan, a city in the south-central part of the Kathmandu
Valley, and home to several Unesco World Heritage |sites including
the Ancient Royal Palace and temples in Patan Durbar Square, which
were reduced to rubble by the earthquake.
They also attended the "Mahasangha -Dana" ceremony, offering
US$1,000 to 150 monks and nuns from Buddhist monasteries.
Tin sheet roofing and auxiliary equipment was handed to 120
families in the four earthquake-affected districts of Patan,
Trisuli, Dhading and Banepa.
The following day, the group presented money and "life packs" to
350 families in Khokana, a traditional Newari village about eight
kilometres south of Kathmandu on the outskirts of Patan, and
another village in Dhading.
Lend a hand
- You too can help Nepalese victims by donating to the World
Buddhist Kitchen through bank account number 713-2-60844-4 of
Kasikorn Bank, Central Plaza Grand Rama IX branch.