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Thailand's Ganesha Devotee Creates World of 10,000 Idols from Father's Gift, PM Modi Narrates Story.
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News18•27-09-2026, 13:21
Thailand's Ganesha Devotee Creates World of 10,000 Idols from Father's Gift, PM Modi Narrates Story.
- •Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Panthong Thirakhanon, a 'Ganesha devotee' from Thailand, in his 'Mann Ki Baat' program.
- •Panthong Thirakhanon's devotion began at 19 when his father gifted him a picture of Lord Ganesha.
- •He spent over four decades studying Ganesha traditions, traveling to India, Nepal, and other Asian countries.
- •His efforts have popularized the Ashtavinayak pilgrimage among devotees in Thailand.
- •In 2002, he established the Ganesh Himal Museum in Chiang Mai, housing over 10,000 Ganesha idols today.
Key Questions Answered
Panthong Thirakhanon is a Ganesha devotee from Thailand where Lord Ganesha is worshipped as 'Phra Phikanet'. His devotion was awakened at the age of 19 when his father gifted him a picture of Lord Shri Ganesha.
Established in 2002 by Panthong Thirakhanon in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, the Ganesh Himal Museum houses more than 10,000 Ganesha idols, including Ashtavinayak idols for devotees unable to travel to India.
After spending over four decades studying Ganesha traditions and developing a special attachment to Maharashtra, he learned about the Ashtavinayak tradition and visited multiple times, eventually popularizing the pilgrimage among Thai devotees.
