Thais flock to events in memory of late King

THAIS TURNED out in huge numbers across the country yesterday to commemorate the birthday of their late and much-loved monarch, HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
The late king passed away peacefully at the age of 89 on October 13.
Still, his birthday on December 5 remained an important day in the hearts of the people. In every corner of Thailand from villages up to the national level, events were held in remembrance of the great monarch who had reigned for an remarkable 70 years.
His Majesty King Maha Vajialongkorn |yesterday presided over a royal merit-making ceremony at the Temple of Emerald Buddha to commemorate the passing of his father.
Later, the King proceeded to the Amarin Winitchai Hall to present ceremonial fans to monks who have been promoted to a higher rank.
Meanwhile, one of the largest events took place on Bhumibol Bridge 1, which links |Samut Prakan province to Bangkok.
Thousands of people walked along the bridge to attend this commemorative event to give offerings to 999 Buddhist monks and observed 89 seconds of silence together. The late monarch is the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty. He is also widely known as King Rama IX.
Participants also sang royal music compositions and the Royal Anthem in honour of the late monarch.
During the event, they also released white and yellow balloons. Yellow is the colour associated with the birthday of the late king, a Monday.
The government joined hands with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Samut Prakan authorities in organising this event. Officials also handed out 50,000 commemorative pins, and 19,999 small packs of sacred soil from 77 provinces.
Postcards were available for people to write down a pledge to do good things in the footsteps of the late king.
Meanwhile, outside the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration headquarters, Culture Minister Vira Rojpojchanarat and Bangkok Governor Pol General Aswin Kwanmuang led people in giving alms to monks in dedication to the late king.
Nearby, huge black-clad crowds crammed into Sanam Luang to queue up for an opportunity to enter the adjacent Grand Palace and lay prostrate before the late king’s body.

Expression of love
“I came back here again today because it’s his birthday,” Somjai Silprapsert, 50, said. Yesterday was the second time she paid her respects to the late monarch inside the Grand Palace’s Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall. Somjai decided to go again, despite the long queue and sweltering heat, because his birthday was always special to her.
While lines to get close to the late king’s body have always been lengthy, yesterday’s queue was especially long.
At the age of 72, Sanit Chaipanya travelled a long distance from Ubon Ratchathani province to Bangkok along with her family members in the hope of laying prostrate before the king.
But the long lines at Sanam Luang reminded her of her chronic health problems and she chose to lay prostrate before a portrait of the late monarch instead.
“I don’t want to be a burden to others. So, I express my loyalty to him in front of his portrait,” she said.
The expression of love for the late king was intense across Thailand, with various forms of activities.
At Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, students formed pictures in honour of the late king and joined the candlelit and signing ceremonies in his memory.
In Udon Thani province, people gathered to water and add fertiliser to plants over 50 rai plots of land in honour of the late king, who had sought to protect the country’s forestland throughout his reign.