On 28 February 2023 H.E. Ms. Pattarat Hongtong, Ambassador of Thailand to India, and Team Thailand joined the Opening Ceremony of the exhibition on “the Indo-Siam Connect: Tracing the Indian Heritage in Thai Art and Living Traditions” co-organised by the National Museum, New Delhi, and the Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi. In this occasion, Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi, Minister of State of External Affairs and Culture graced this exhibition, together with Shri Kumar Tuhin, Director General of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and Smt. Lily Pandey, Director General of National Museum.

The exhibition aims to promote knowledge of the religious and cultural connection between Thailand and India from ancient to modern times. Through various artifacts from the collection of the National Museum, the exhibition is thematically divided into several sections showcasing the chronological progression, and the longstanding and dynamic cultural and artistic relationship shared by India and Thailand, formerly known as Siam. Several replicas of the masterpieces of ancient Thai art, musical instruments, Khon masks and photographs of Thai archaeological sites exhibited here are contributed by the Royal Thai Embassy.

This exhibition is a continuing series from the special lecture on “Indian Heritage in Thai Civilisation, Arts and Architecture" by Prof. Dr. Chedha Tingsanchali from the Department of Art History, Silpakorn University, organised by the Royal Thai Embassy and the National Museum on 17 November 2022.

“The Indo-Siam Connect: Tracing the Indian Heritage in Thai Art and Living Traditions” exhibition takes place at Erstwhile Buddhist Art Gallery, National Museum, New Delhi from 28 February - 31 May 2023.