This year will mark the first time the Buddhist monk chiefs of Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Shaolin Temple in China will take part in large-scale Buddhist prayers in Thailand, a religious countdown to the New Year.
Aside from these important Sangha chiefs, ministers in charge of religions and culture in these countries were also invited to the prayers, to be held simultaneously across the country as it rings in the start of 2019, said Culture Minister Vira Rojpojchanarat.
The main purpose in inviting these important figures to attend the countdown was to strengthen Thailand's Buddhist relations with its neighbours, he said.
The ministry has also invited oganisations representing other religions in the country to hold their activities on New Year's Eve.
A total of 544 Thai Buddhist temples around the world will organise their own versions of the prayers, as they do every year, Mr Vira said.
The countdown event was originally aimed at distracting revellers from festive vices and encouraging them to celebrate the New Year without alcohol, he added.
Also part of the activity, Lord Buddha's relics kept in 13 countries will be installed temporarily as part of a religious ceremony at Sanam Luang from Sunday until New Year's Day on Tuesday, he said.
The countries are Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Japan, Indonesia, India, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Thailand.
A procession will ferry the relics from Maha Chetsadabodin Pavilion Court.
