New Delhi: India will confer the first World Sanskrit Award on Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who will begin a five-day visit to India on Sunday.

The award will be presented on Monday evening in New Delhi at a function that will be attended by vice-president Hamid Ansari.

The 60-year-old Thai Princess is an eminent Sanskrit scholar and had played a prominent role as Royal Patron for the World Sanskrit Conference that was held earlier in the Thai capital Bangkok. She will also be visiting Bhopal, Guwahati and Shillong during her visit.

The event on Monday will further cement the strong cultural ties between the two countries that have existed since ancient times.

Reports from Bangkok in February had quoted a top external affairs ministry official as saying, “Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will be travelling to India to receive the first world Sanskrit Award, which has been conferred on her by the government of India.”