The 5th December is His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej's birthday or วันเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษา พระบาทสมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัว in Thai language. This public holiday is celebrated nationwide as Father's Day ("WAN PHO HENG CHAT" - วันพ่อแห่งชาติ). The King is considered as the father of all Thai people.
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To celebrate the King's birthday in Bangkok, Thai people
from all provinces are coming. Nakhon Pathom group has just arrived
in Bangkok by car.
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Free food, free water and free bus fare is provided to the people joining this celebration.
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A souvenir photo is taken before the whole group is heading to their reserved
location.
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In fact, local functionaries such as subdistrict headman ("KAMNAN" - กำนัน) have paid for the trip expenses. Each province needs to show they were present to this major Thai event.
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People gather at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, a former reception hall within
Dusit Palace in Bangkok.
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| Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall |
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Thai people sit down, eat and chat together while waiting for the official celebrations to start. A good friendly atmosphere is ongoing.
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A panel indicates the reserved location for each province.
Thai people wear rose color clothes on the Father's day.
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On each Monday, Thai people often wear yellow clothes.
Since the political issues between red shirts and yellow shirts, yellow
color is less popular on Monday.
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Everybody has a chair. Tens of thousands of people are coming from the 76 Thai provinces.
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Thai flags are distributed by some volunteers.
The Thai flag ("THONG TRAI RONG" - ธงไตรรงค์)
symbolises the monarchy (blue color),
the nation (red color) and the Buddhism (white color).
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Huge portraits of the Thai King are displayed all over the
country. "PHAN PHUM" items (พานพุ่ม)
are displayed in front of the King portraits.
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It is a Royal way to wish good health and merit (บารมี).
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On each side of the area, there are places to pray
(มีที่ไหว้) and give respect to
Buddha (ไหว้พระ).
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Huge statue of Thai King Rama V - Chulalongkorn riding a horse
(พระรูปทรงม้า).
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Big panels representing the Queen and the King are displayed all over Thailand.
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Music is performed during the afternoon. One big issue is the toilets that are
far away :-)
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First Thai people start to arrive around 1PM and but the feast shall only
start around 7PM. There is a rotation in order to keep the good seats.
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Many local products are on sale. Especially "One Tambon One Product" (OTOP)
goods are popular.
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End of afternoon is approaching and Thai people are eagerly waiting for the
King's birthday feast to start.
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At around 7 PM, the feast starts. Big displays show the huge crowd.
Unfortunately in year 2009, the King couldn't join
as he was at hospital.
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Thai singers perform a show. It is always an honor for them to be invited
to perform on the King's birthday. Most of the songs are related to the King.
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Most of the singers are old style singers as young singers sometimes
don't know how to sing such songs.
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On a 3 or 4 rai (one rai - ไร่ is 1600m2)
surface, around one million Thai people are present.
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All Thai people are giving a formal greeting to the King
(ถวายพระพร).
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The show has started. The long awaiting is over and lights over the palace
start to switch on.
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Thai flags are waved with strong vigor to celebrate the King's birthday.
Many loud cheers can be heard.
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Powerful lights are sent by huge projectors on the Royal palace.
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Images from the King's childhood up to nowadays are
projected on the palace facade. It shows the King's hardship
(visiting the farmers despite hot or raining weather, despite
floods, effort to help farmers to have bountiful rice crop...).
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A movie projected on huge screen narrates the King's life including
his period as a monk and his wedding.
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The event finishes with beautiful fireworks
(จุดพลุ). All Thai people
carry a small candle (จุดเทียน)
to honor the King.
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The spectacle is finished at 10PM and has last 3 hours.
it is time to go home in their various provinces.
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Fortunately there is no traffic jam as cars were not
allowed around the King palace area.
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| Home > Culture > Thai Calendar > H.M. The King's Birthday |
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