On January 26, 2026, Nakhon Phanom University took part in the traditional ceremony of inviting Phra Upakhut, marking the official opening of the 2026 Phra That Phanom Festival at Wat Phra That Phanom Woramahawihan in That Phanom District, Nakhon Phanom Province. Prof. Emeritus Dr. Tawadchai Suppadit, President of Nakhon Phanom University, led executives, staff, students, and pupils in the ceremonial procession.

The ceremony was presided over by Acting Major Adisak Noisuwan, Governor of Nakhon Phanom, and attended by distinguished guests including Mrs. Tapana Raktiprakorn, Deputy Royal Secretary to Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn; Mrs. Urairat Noisuwan, President of the Nakhon Phanom Provincial Red Cross Chapter; deputy governors; and senior officials from the judiciary, military, and police. Large numbers of Buddhist devotees and visitors from across the region joined the event.

The ritual began before dawn with a water procession from the Mekong River, reflecting the belief that Phra Upakhut, revered as an Arahant, brings protection and peace. The procession then moved onto land and continued to the temple, where the sacred image was enshrined.

This time-honoured ceremony marks the official beginning of the annual Phra That Phanom Festival, a long-standing cultural tradition rooted in local belief, held from January 26 to February 3, 2026.