New Year celebrations will be different this time around   

In grief we have joined forces and shown the world that sorrow and weakness can be transformed into strength and solidarity with one another.

Since the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in his 89th year on October 13, millions of loyal subjects have travelled to the main site of mourning, Sanam Luang, to pay homage.
More than one million people have managed to pay their respects in front of the Royal Urn inside the Grand Palace’s Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall since it was opened to the public on October 29.
Despite the huge numbers, things have gone smoothly barring the inconvenience of long queues and piles of garbage.
Even foreign tourists are respecting the mood, dressing in sombre-coloured clothing to visit the Temple of Emerald Buddha inside the Grand Palace compound.
At first, it seemed the government struggled to strike the right balance between mourning and “business-as-usual”. But the mood has eased since the ban on entertainment activities was lifted on November 14 after a month of national mourning.
The schedule of traditional festivals, festivities, concerts and cultural and sporting events resumed last Monday, though in a more muted atmosphere.
The first traditional festival since the King’s passing was Loy Kratong. The celebrations last week on Monday were quiet and the mood was sombre as Thais marked the end of the first month of the official year-long mourning period. No fireworks or sky lanterns were allowed in Bangkok.
The gentle nature of the revelry extended to concern shown for the environment.  More than 93 per cent of nearly 662,000 floats collected last week from Bangkok waterways were made of natural materials and the number of krathong was substantially lower than last year.
Thais have demonstrated an intuitive awareness of what they should or should not do during the mourning period. But that sensitivity will face a challenge when the country celebrates the New Year in 40 days time.
The January 1 celebration will no doubt be different this year, but Thai authorities will also want to send the message that “life goes on”.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is consulting the public and businesses about how to promote tourism at this pivotal time of the year.
The TAT has proposed an event called the “Candlelight of Siam”, which would replace fireworks and other garish festivities with the lighting of candles and prayers for the passing of the old year and arrival of the new. And of course HM the late King would form the emotional focus for the national event, which will centre on a ceremony at Sanam Luang where the TAT predicts at least 100,000 will gather. Foreign tourists will also be invited.  
The tourism authority will also propose that those who normally organise countdown events across the country should join the Sanam Luang spirit.
The change of approach to celebrations is also designed to assure foreign visitors that festivities continue despite the mourning period, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul. 
Last year over 13 million people participated in New Year’s prayer ceremonies, according to Kobkarn, who predicted the figure would rise to around 20 million people this year.
It will be heartening to see the country soften its modern-day raucous celebrations and greet the New Year in traditional Thai style: simple and moderate, in line with the King’s philosophy of sufficiency. The public, businesses and the tourism sector should support this idea of returning to our cultural roots at this significant moment. Prayers will be directed to the future, but also towards our past, and His Majesty the King, who did so much to form it.