Birthday recollections

Tributes paid to late monarch, fathers

Their Majesties the King and Queen light candles in a religious ceremony commemorating the birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great at the Grand Palace yesterday. Their Majesties were accompanied by HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha Na rend ira de by a va ti and HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya.

Thais across the country paid their respects to the late His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great on his birthday yesterday.

The highlight of the day was at Sanam Luang, where Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha led cabinet members and their spouses to hold religious ceremonies. He later presided over an exhibition to promote Father’s Day and the work of the monarch.

Gen Prayut praised the late king for his tireless efforts in solving people’s problems — from inadequate health care to poverty.

In other provinces, provincial governors and district chiefs led similar activities for the late king. Meanwhile, many restaurants offered free food and people performed voluntary acts of public service such as cleaning in their communities.

Most people wore yellow yesterday to show their gratitude to their beloved king.

In social media, Thai users wrote in commemoration of the king.

Hashtags such as #KingBhumibol #KingRama9 #KingRamaIX were trending yesterday.

Since Dec 5 also marks Father’s Day as well National Soil Day — in honour of the revered king’s contributions — many people on social media also posted pictures of them with their father while some men wrote to their children.

Panachit Kittipanya-ngam referred to a poem he wrote in honour of the king in 2012 and said, “No matter how many times I read this, I miss [HM King Bhumibol]. Dec 5, 2019”.

Meanwhile, Pook Lux posted a picture of her with her mother and brother and wrote: His Majesty [King Rama IX] stays on the minds of Thais. Let’s pay tribute to King Rama IX. On Father’s Day, I make merit in honour of all fathers. My father is no longer here but I’d like to say my mother can perform all the father’s duties as she can do everything and be a father and mother in one person.

On Twitter, @doodeedast posted a picture of King Bhumibol and wrote, “Always on my mind”.

@GG_GiGiii shared pictures of a tuk-tuk which gave her a free ride as the driver was performing a service in commemoration of King Rama IX.

WICHAN CHAROENKIATPAKUL ABOVE A large portrait of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great takes centre stage at an exhibition held to honour the late king’s birthday and Father’s Day at Sanam Luang yesterday.

PATIPAT JANTHONG RIGHT Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his wife, Naraporn, lead state officials in paying respect to King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great at Sanam Luang.

PATIPAT JANTHONG Statues of mythical characters are erected on a decorated landscape at Sanam Luang, which features the Thai number nine to represent the ninth Chakri monarch.

PORNPROM SATRABHAYA A vintage steam locomotive pulls out of Hua Lamphong train station on a special, one-day excursion to Chachoengsao.

PATIPAT JANTHONG A mother and her daughter join a large crowd of people to offer alms to 489 monks at Sanam Luang yesterday morning.

PORNPROM SATRABHAYA A father shows his daughter an albino python at the Snake Farm inside Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute in Bangkok.

PATIPAT JANTHONG ‘Jitr arsa’ volunteers rake out water hyacinths to make organic fertiliser at a demonstration field at Sanam Luang.

PATIPAT JANTHONG A woman presents a ‘phan phum’ offering before a portrait of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great.