The Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi has organised a Thai textile exhibition and seminar under the theme "Thailand and India: A Journey of Friendship through Textile", in collaboration with Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), the Ministry of External Affairs of India, the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kolkata, and the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Thammasat University. The seminar and  exhibition were held during 20 – 29 June 2022 at Bharat Kala Bhavan in Varanasi, Rabindranath Tagore Center in Kolkata and the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi respectively.

The seminar was led by the three textile experts from Thailand, namely (1) Dr. Anucha Thirakanont, Dean of the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, (2) Dr. Wuthigrai Siriphon, an award-winning weaver and lecturer at Thammasat University, and (3) Mr. Wisharawish Akarasantisook, a creative director of WISHARAWISH. They discussed on aged old Indo-Thai ties through common textile culture, textile and craftsmanship development trends, as well as arts and crafts knowledge transmission by online system during the COVID-19. Indian experts also shared their experience and knowledge on Indian textiles during the seminar in Varanasi and Kolkata. In addition, attendees had an opportunity to view the exhibition of Thai handloom textile and also joined a fun activity like DIY flower pin made from Mudmee, the Thai hand-weaving fabric.

To wrap up the activities in the two cities, the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi organised the finale of the Thai textile exhibition on 29 June 2022 for foreign dignitaries and artists in New Delhi and high-level officers from relevant governmental organisations of India. Her Excellency Ms. Meenakshi Lekhi, Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, graced this special event as the Chief Guest and delivered a speech which touched upon the Thailand-India relations based on shared culture and the Patronage of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, which helped to revive and promote the handloom textile in Thailand.

This textile exhibition marks the Royal Thai Embassy’s first series of activities to celebrate the 75^th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Thailand and India which also coincides with the celebration of 75 years of India’s independence or Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.