A tribute to His Majesty

Despite the flooding in many areas of Thailand, the celebrations marking His Majesty the King’s seventh cycle birthday anniversary will go ahead as planned, Ratanavudh Vajarodaya, special project adviser of Bureau of the Royal Household, confirms. 

The events, which kick off tomorrow and run until December 9, include a panoramic multimedia show in 3D projected on the walls of the Grand Palace.

The first activity takes place at the main stage in Sanam Luang’s Phra Meru ground on the Grand Palace side and features the light, sound, and multimedia extravaganza entitled “The Golden Heritage of the Rattanakosin Era”. Running nightly at 7pm, the show will be performed by more than 150 actors and actresses. Rinlanee Sripen will take the role of the main narrator Jittasiam tomorrow, Sunday and Monday and again on December 8, while Vorarait Feung-Arom and Lt Col Wanchana Sawasdee will alternate as Krom Phra Rajawang Boworn Stan Mongkol Maha Surasinghanart tomorrow and Sunday and from Monday to December 9 respectively. Maneenuch Smerasuta will sing His Majesty’s compositions. Seats for 4,200 people are available and there is also plenty of standing room.

The second event is the panoramic 3D multimedia presentation entitled “The Glory of Rattanakosin Era”, which will be projected along the walls of Grand Palace on Na Phra Lan Road, from the City Pillar Shrine to Visetchaisri Gate. The movie portrays the prosperity of the Rattanakosin Era during the reign of His Majesty, depicts exquisite arts and crafts that have been passed down through the generations, and also highlights the mastery and ingenuity of His Majesty in various fields of arts. 

As the movie screens images of the Ramayana mural paintings at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, there will be a live khon performance. The presentation lasts 20 minutes, and it runs continuously from 7 to 10pm from tomorrow onwards.

And for the first time ever, the Bureau of the Royal Household will allow visitors to visit and take photographs of the middle section of the Grand Palace, from the Visetchaisri Gate to the front of the Chakri Throne Hall nightly from Monday to Friday between 7pm and midnight.

Ratanavudh says His Majesty the King will graciously grant an audience to a group of officials and the public on Monday at 10.30am at the Chakri Throne Hall before appearing on the balcony. 

“His Majesty will leave Siriraj Hospital around 10am. The public are welcome to line the route along the way,” he says.