The 63rd Kalapruek Bouquet Pinning Ceremony Celebrated Splendidly with "The Churning of the Ocean of Milk" Performance, Symbolising Collective Strength to Overcome Obstacles and Marking the Official Entry into the Mor Din Daeng Family

The 63rd Kalapruek Bouquet Pinning Ceremony Celebrated Splendidly with “The Churning of the Ocean of Milk” Performance, Symbolising Collective Strength to Overcome Obstacles and Marking the Official Entry into the Mor Din Daeng Family

22 June 2026
13:22

Over 7,000 freshmen gathered at the 50th Anniversary Stadium to celebrate institutional pride, perseverance, and solidarity through a grand cultural showcase.

On 21 June 2026, Khon Kaen University organised the annual “Welcoming the New Kalapruek Bouquet, Uniting Our Hearts, and Strengthening Mor Din Daeng Bonds” Ceremony for the 2026 academic year. Associate Professor Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University, honoured the event by presiding over the ceremony, which was attended by university executives and over 7,000 incoming students at the 50th Anniversary Stadium.

The atmosphere of the event began at 18:00 hrs as the new students marched in procession into the 50th Anniversary Stadium. This was followed by performances from the university cheerleaders, the collective singing of institutional songs, and a welcoming parade from the Student Organisation and student clubs of every faculty moving into the football field.

The proceedings began at 18:00 as the new students marched in procession into the stadium, followed by performances from the university cheerleaders, the collective singing of institutional songs, and a welcoming parade from the Student Organisation and student clubs of every faculty onto the football field.

The centrepiece of the evening was the dramatic dance production of ‘The Churning of the Ocean of Milk’, presented under the title ‘The Grand Nectar of Success: The Magnificent Kalapruek United in Victory,’ accompanied by the ceremonial procession of the Golden Kalapruek Bouquet and the Rom Phaka Kal umbrella performance. Drawn from ancient Indian tradition, the churning of the ocean of milk is an epic of collective cooperation between deities and demons in pursuit of the elixir of immortality — symbolising value, hope, and success. Though the path was filled with obstacles, perseverance and collaboration yielded countless precious things from that ocean.

This parallels the experience of entering Khon Kaen University, where new students embark on a journey to discover knowledge, experience, friendship, and their own self-worth through learning and growing together. The performance conveyed this story of value and beauty arising from mutual cooperation and unity.

Following the performance, Associate Professor Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University, honoured the event by performing the pinning ceremony of the 63rd Kalapruek bouquet onto the Golden Kalapruek Tree, and presented the batch flag to the representatives of the new students to officially welcome the new Kalapruek bouquet into the Mor Din Daeng family.

Mr. Sorawit Kingkaew, President of the Khon Kaen University Student Organisation for the 2025–2026 academic year, said:

‘On behalf of the Khon Kaen University Student Organisation, managed by the Brick-Red Blood Group, I am very delighted to welcome the 63rd Kalapruek batch to the Mor Din Daeng family. The university will provide you with knowledge, activities will provide you with experience, and hands-on living will give everyone a clear identity. I would like all of you to applaud your own success, enjoy learning, and may all your dreams bloom beautifully within these brick-red walls.’

Meanwhile, Mr. Sittiphorn Kumpasee, President of the Khon Kaen University Student Council, said: “Congratulations to all new students on stepping into Khon Kaen University. This is the beginning of a valuable journey, a time for everyone to open up their world of learning and develop their potential. I hope you enjoy your studies, bravely face every challenge, and reap both friendship and growth during this most beautiful period of your lives.”

Among the new students, Mr Khluithai Kenmee (known as Khlui) from the Faculty of Education said: ‘The freshman welcoming activities here are spectacular, grander than anywhere else, and warmly welcoming. Everything was exactly as I had imagined. Joining activities with friends has made me very happy. Thank you to the senior students who stayed up late and dedicated themselves to organising this event for us.’

Ms. Nattatida Silpachai (Ruang Khao) from the Faculty of Agriculture revealed her feelings: “I travelled all the way from Uttaradit because I felt that Khon Kaen University is a place that can provide me with both academic knowledge and fun, choosing it as my first priority. The freshman welcoming event at Khon Kaen University was exactly as I thought; it was very fun and warm. I expect that studying Animal Science will be difficult, but I will intend to study hard until graduation. I hope that these four years will allow me to harvest happiness, good friendships, and that after graduation, I will secure a job to help others in society further.”

The Kalapruek Bouquet Pinning Ceremony aims to welcome new students and instil pride in the institution. The Kalapruek, or Pink Cassia, is the official tree of Khon Kaen University, planted by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great (King Rama IX) and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit the Queen Mother on 20 December 1967, on the occasion of their royal visit to preside over the university’s official opening ceremony.

Just as Kalapruek blossoms bloom simultaneously into a beautiful bouquet, each new intake enters as a ‘new Kalapruek bouquet’, ready to grow, develop, and graduate as contributors to society.

After the presentation of the batch flag, the ceremony closed with the new students of the 63rd Kalapruek batch and thousands of senior students on the grandstands singing the institutional song together, the sound filling the 50th Anniversary Stadium. That image of united voices reflects the bond of faith and solidarity of the Mor Din Daeng community across generations. The ‘Welcoming the New Kalapruek Bouquet’ Ceremony thus concluded in an atmosphere of warmth that those within the brick-red walls will long remember.