The government is being asked to settle a row over the rights to organise an annual festival celebrating the worship of a sacred Buddha footprint replica in Chanthaburi.
Phra Khru Phutthabhotbariba, accompanied by a group of local administrators, has submitted a petition to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha urging him to mediate.
According to the monk, the conflict over the rights to organise the Khao Khitchakut Phraputthabat worship festival erupted following the death of Phra Khru Thammasorakhun, the former abbot of Wat Krathing.
The new abbot, Phra Khru Wirotthammanukul, claims the temple has sole rights to organise the festival and decided to grant the rights to organise it to a non-religious association.
Phra Khru Phutthabhotbariba said the new abbot has broken from tradition. The Khao Khitchakut Phraputthabat festival is organised by a monastic committee of nine temples.
Suksawat Suwannawong, a Government House official, said he would forward the petition to the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, the Interior Ministry, the National Buddhism Office and the Prime Minister's Office.
The Khao Khitchakut Phraputthabat worship festival is one of Chanthaburi's biggest events in which tens of thousands of Thai and foreign Buddhists climb Khao Khitchakut to worship the footprint.
It is believed that climbing the mountain shows faith and perseverance in overcoming difficulties. This year's festival is scheduled from Jan 19-March 19.