Thailand’s reigning monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, was crowned king on May 5, 1950 after his elder brother, King Ananda Mahidol, died of gunshot wound on June 9, 1946. He officially assumed kingship after he finished his studies abroad and married Queen Sirikit a week before his coronation.
Coronation Day 2013 will be celebrated on Sunday, May 5. Because this public holiday falls on a weekend, a compensatory non-workday will be observed on Monday, May 6.
Celebrating the Royal Regalia
The present-day commemoration of this important event in Thai history takes place for three days. The rituals are performed in the Grand Palace in Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok, and are attended by the royal household, government officials, Brahmin priests and monks.
On May 3 of every year, His Majesty leads a Buddhist merit-making ceremony called “tham boon” at the Amarindra Throne Hall in the Grand Palace. This day, more than anything, is dedicated to honor the king’s ancestors. Monks chant verses, deliver sermons and conduct a requiem ritual to commemorate the relics of the Chakri monarchs.
Later in the day, the King issues flags of honor to military units who displayed exemplary behavior.
On May 4, there are two ceremonies performed with Brahmins and Buddhist monks presiding over the rites. The day starts with a declaration to open the Coronation Day, a ritual presided over by Brahmins. The second part of the ceremonies is conducted by Buddhist monks who sanctify the occasion.
On the day of the coronation anniversary itself, the King is dressed in full regalia. As customary in Buddhism, a feast is prepared for monks during auspicious occasions, and the King presents these offerings to them.
His Majesty also leads a “wien thien” ceremony wherein he walks three times around the Wat Phra Kaew’s sacred grounds bearing Buddhist relics.
At noon, the kingdom’s Armed Forces and Navy pay their respects by each firing a 21 gun salute. This is also the day when His Majesty awards citations and presents royal decorations to outstanding Thais who made valuable contributions to the country.
The Coronation Day ends with a sacred ritual in the evening: The reigning monarch changes the cloth of the Emerald Buddha, the sacred guardian of the Thais since Rama I brought it to this side of the Chao Phraya.
Off-Limits Grounds are Opened to the Public
On May 5 every year, some rooms in the Grand Palace are opened for public viewing. This year, the King also decided to open to the public the Royal Pantheon which is only reserved for use of the royalty.
The Thais’ Loyalty to Royalty
Thais consider their monarchs as avatars of the divine; hence, Siamese kings have always earned the reverence, love and devotion of the people. Modern day Thais turn out in hundreds of thousands to wave the red, white and blue Thai flag in their unfaltering support of the monarchy.
Larger-than-life papier mache and classic ornate artworks representative of Thailand culture and attractions are lit inside and erected on mobile platforms. The Royal Air Force band plays some tunes for public entertainment, and the celebrations in Bangkok are concluded with lavish fireworks.
Photo by permanently scatterbrained
