Celebrating Rattanakosin

Bangkok turns 233 next Tuesday, and the Culture Ministry is celebrating the city’s birthday with a series of events that begin tomorrow at Sanam Luang and Rattanakosin island.

Running until Tuesday, the celebration commemorates King Rama I, the first of the Chakri Dynasty, and each of his successors. Harking back to that era, Sanam Luang will be transformed into old Siam, with cultural performances and handicraft demonstrations.

A grand-opening parade on Saturday will have 2,000 performers dressed in the costumes of the nine reigns. The 1.5-kilometre-parade, which gets underway at 4pm, starts at the Victory Monument on Rajadamnoen Avenue and head to Sanam Luang.

The parade will be led by celebrities and National Artists and feature nine distinctive themes. 

Actor Sornram Theppitak will honour Rama I and founding of the Rattanakosin Kingdom with “Sang Baan Sang Muang” (“The Establishment of The Capital”), which will present the famous battle between Siamese and Burmese troops that is known “Songkram Kaow Tab”.

Actress Woranut “Noon” Bhirombhakdi will lead a troupe honouring Rama II and his contributions to Thai literature.

Growth during the reign of King Rama III will be celebrated in “Lamlert Settakit” (“Economic Boom”), which will feature Chinese-style dancing and a sailing ship in honour of Siamese and Chinese trading ties.

Energetic performers from “Thailand’s Got Talent” pay tribute to King Rama IV’s scientific achievements with “Naewkid Atchariya” (“Genius King”).

Next will be “Wattanatham Soo Sakol” (“Leading Thai Culture to the World”), a sound-and-light show that celebrates King Chulalongkorn’s efforts to modernise Siam and introduce Thai culture to the West, while advances in education will be highlighted in the pagaent honouring King Mongkut, who was known as “the great educator”.

The constitutional monarchy and the era of King Prajadhipok or Rama VII will be recalled through the sounds of the day, including Thai classical music performances, ballroom dancing and National Artist Settha Sirachaya singing compositions made famous by the Suntharaporn big band.

The end of World War II and the crowning of King Ananda Mahidol will be recounted in“Nam Thai Samakkee” or “Return Unity to Thais”.

“Maaklon Phra Baramee” (“The Greatest King”) highlights the “sufficiency economy” philosophy of His Majesty the King, with TV personality and movie actress Sudarat “Tukky” Butrprom leading a show about Thai farmers.

And the parade will wrap with the celebratory song “Krong Phandin Doey Dhamma” (“Rule the Kingdom with Dhamma”), featuring all the performers.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will preside over ceremonies honouring the former kings and the city shrine at 6pm.

The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew will provide a dramatic backdrop for a sound-and-light show detailing the history of the capital and the nine reigns. 

More entertainment will come from Tukky, comedy troupe Cham-uad Naamaan, luk thung singer Noona, likay performer Chaya Mitchai as well as pop singer Dome the Star and dozens of National Artists.

And all women are welcome to enter the Miss Rattanakosin contest.

An exhibition of historic photos will be on throughout the five-day celebration, along with demonstrations of traditional arts, including kite making, khon masks, basketry and muay thai. 

Of course, there will be food from each of the Kingdom’s “four regions”, as well as items from One Tambon One Product. 

Also, there’s a one-day trip to make merit at nine temples supported by the nine Chakri kings.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Bangkok’s 233rd anniversary celebrations run from tomorrow until Tuesday around Sanam Luang and Rattakosin Island.

Free bus tours are offered from Sunday to Wednesday.

For more information, call the Culture Ministry at 1765 or check www.m-culture.go.th.