Mothers Day - A Day Of Peace And Celebration For Hm Queen Sirikit

[george]

Mothers day - a day of peace and celebration for HM Queen Sirikit

By John Le Fevre

For as long as most Thais can remember August 12 has been an occasion when political differences are put aside, squabbles quietened and a time for peace and harmony as the nation comes together as one to wish birthday greetings to the kingdoms Queen, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit.

Across the country Thais in every province (changwat), district (amphoe or khet), town (mueng), village (muban), or community (chumchon) will put aside their differences to honor the woman affectionately regarded as the mother of all Thais.

From alms-giving ceremonies conducted at first light though until dusk the celebrations will continue, with households being cleaned, street and neighborhood parties held and government, commercial and private buildings festooned with lights.

Born in 1932, the same year that Thailand changed from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy, Queen Sirikit, or to give her her full title, Somdet Phra Nang Chao Sirikit Phra Borommarachininat (สมเด็จพระนางเจ้าสิริกิติ์ พระบรมราชินีนาถ) is the worlds longest reigning consort to a head of state.

The Queen met Thailand’s monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, King (Rama IX), in France where she was studying and accompanied him to various tourist attractions while he was visiting from Switzerland where he was studying.

Following an automobile accident involving the King that resulted in him loosing an eye, Queen Sirikit was a frequent visitor to him in hospital and the two discovered they shared many common interests and in April, 1950, the two married.

Since her marriage and the coronation of the King, Queen Sirikit has earned the deep respect and admiration of the people of Thailand through her charitable work with the poor and disadvantaged, and the granting of royal patronage to thousands of projects from the north to the south of the country.

In fact, the work of Queen Sirikit has been so intense and her devotion to working to improve the lives of all Thais so great, that it would be difficult for someone to visit any district of Thailand and not find many projects that she has been involved in.

Following the Asian tsunami in 2004 Queen Sirikit, as honorary president of the Thai Red Cross, took a leading role in relief operations and in establishing programs to assist those physically and psychologically affected by the disaster.

The work of Queen Sirikit has also been recognized internationally by organizations including the United Nations, the World Wildlife Fund for Nature, Unicef, the World Health Organization and a multitude of universities and institutions worldwide.

As tradition dictates, one of the largest celebrations of the birthday of Queen Sirikit will take place at Sanam Luang, in front of the Royal Palace in Bangkok.

The celebrations will commence with an alms-giving ceremony to 278 monks in the morning and conclude with a candle-lighting ceremony at 7.19pm presided over by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Acting Government Spokesperson Dr Panitan Wattanayakorn said all people in Thailand are invited to join in the celebrations to wish HM Queen Sirikit a joyous and memorable 77th birthday anniversary and the Government hoped all people would take the opportunity to decorate their homes with flags, lights and other items bearing the initials of the Queen.

ThaiVisa wishes to extend to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit our hopes for a peaceful, happy and festive celebration on this special occassion and our sincerest wishes for many more birthdays in the future.

Happy Birthday, Queen Sirikit!

-- thaivisa.com 2009-08-12

[mauGR1]

Happy Birthday HM Queen Sirikit,and a Happy Day to all the Mothers in Thailand !

[sbk]

Happy Birthday HM Queen Sirikit.

And Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers in Thailand.

[TAWP]

Happy Birthday and Happy Mothers Day!

[photojourn]

Happy Birthday Queen Sirikit and best wishers to all the people of Thailand for their "mother" achieving the age of 77. May she enjoy many more.

[monoli87]

Happy birthday HM Queen

Happy birthday to all the mother in Thailand

and.... the most important thing.... happy mother's day to My lovely gf mother.... may she always live with cheer, joy and healthy.....

[webfact]

Happy Birthday HM Queen Sirikit.

[Scott]

May she have may more birthdays to come.

[Thailand]

Very happy birthday to HM - I also share the 12th August as my birthday.

[dale8]

Hello, happy birthday to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit with many returns. Happy Mother's day for all mothers in Thailand, and I hope the celebration goes well in Bangkok. Cheers.

[Lite Beer]

Off Topic Post Deleted. Please restrict your posts to wishing HM a happy birthday.

Thank You.

[george]

HM the Queen gives birthday address

ROYAL SPEECH

HM the King in great shape, says Queen

BANGKOK: -- Her Majesty the Queen says His Majesty the King is hale and hearty and remains dedicated to working for the good of his people.

The Queen yesterday talked about the King's health during her birthday address to a gathering of cabinet ministers, senior government officials and members of the public who went to the Dusitdalai Pavilion inside the Chitralada Palace to wish her well on the eve of her 77th birthday today.

She was accompanied by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and other members of the royal family

The Queen said the King now lived at Klai Klang Won Palace in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Hua Hin district where he benefitted from a healthful climate.

The King is healthy, exercises regularly by walking and can perform his duties such as receiving foreign guests and inspecting royal projects in Hua Hin, the Queen said.

She said it is now impossible for the King to work as hard as he did decades ago when he was strong and vigorous, although he has always followed the progress of projects to help ease the plight of the people, particularly measures to deal with floods.

"His Majesty cares very much about his people. He is concerned about flooding and is looking for ways to prevent it," the Queen said.

She said in the past when the King travelled long distances to visit people in remote rural areas, he always drove himself and carried maps wherever he went to examine geographical details.

His Majesty visited people in all regions of the country to see for himself their hardships so he could think of ways to help them according to their varying needs.

His Majesty has initiated more than 3,000 royal projects aimed at improving the livelihood of people in all regions and has continued to work for the good of the people for almost 60 years.

"His Majesty said he was delighted when he learned his people were happy," the Queen said.

The Queen also spoke about a project to make artificial reefs off the coast in Pattani's Mai Kaen district.

The project was introduced after local people complained to Her Majesty about depleted fish stocks in the sea.

She said the project had now become a success and the artificial reefs were home to an abundance of marine life with rare fish species beginning to reappear.

Her Majesty asked Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and the relevant government agencies to support the project to create artificial reefs in other provinces in the South.

She also talked about the nutritional value of rice which is widely recognised and urged more consumption of the grain.

At one point of her hour-long speech, the Queen praised villagers for their remarkable artistic skills in making exquisite traditional handicrafts which are now on show at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall.

The Queen said the handicrafts were described by foreign visitors as "world-class".

-- Bangkok Post 2009-08-12

[george]

Her Majesty recounts King's extensive travels

On the eve of her 77th birthday, Her Majesty the Queen yesterday recounted how His Majesty the King in his healthier decades had driven around the country to reach out to his people.

"His Majesty used to visit people in all regions, even in remote areas. He drove himself and sometimes he had to drive over a river," Her Majesty said at the Chitralada Villa of Dusit Palace.

Granted an audience were Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, his Cabinet members and their spouses and many other well-wishers.

They had sought an audience to wish her a happy birthday.

"I have been Queen for 59 years. During this period, I have accompanied His Majesty to every region in the country. That has allowed me to see how he has worked for his people … Wherever he goes, he has a map by his side. He has worked on the soil and water for so many decades that he has become an expert now," Her Majesty said.

She said the King was almost 82 years old now and could no longer take trips to remote areas the way he used to do.

She said her husband's health was fine and that he exercised by walking along the balcony of Klai Kangwon Palace every day.

"He still carries out royal works, welcomes guests of state and still travels to nearby locations to follow up on various projects," Her Majesty said.

The Queen said the King also gave instructions for the follow-through of each royal project.

Having more than 3,000 royal projects to promote his subjects' well-being, the King has worked non-stop for almost 60 years without getting bored, because it is a labour of love for his people, she said.

His Majesty said the King took care of all his people's well-being, especially poor people with many children. She said she also invited youths of these poor families to the Central region or the Royal Palace to undergo craftsmanship training by the Support Foundation of Queen Sirikit of Thailand, whose masterpieces were now exhibited in the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall.

She also praised the assistance given by various agencies in the southernmost province of Narathiwat.

Towards the end of her speech, Her Majesty thanked the audience for listening to her and for giving opportunities to Thai youths, such as her project at the Support Foundation.

She proudly praised the trained youths' outstanding skills in making golden niello wares despite their age, and said that if the opportunity arrived for her to visit the United States when the global economy improved, she would bring these young craftsmen to see the US and present their works in contests there.

-- The Nation 2009-08-11

[george]

Happy Birthday Queen Sirikit

HM Queen Sirikit is 77 today. In Thailand,

August 12 is also marked as Mothers' Day.

PHUKET: -- The Phuket Gazette joins the nation in celebrating the birthday of HM Queen Sirikit, the world’s longest serving consort of a monarch, who celebrates her 77th birthday today.

August 12 is also marked as Mothers’ Day in Thailand.

Born in 1932, Queen Sirikit was married to HM King Bhumibhol Adulyadej on April 28, 1950, only a week before the coronation of King Bhimibhol.

Queen Sirikit also bears the title Queen Regent of Thailand, bestowed upon her after she served as Regent while King Bhimibhol undertook a period of service as a Buddhist monk.

She is known for her charity work, which includes serving as honorary President of the Thai Red Cross.

Queen Sirikit received the UNICEF Recognition Award and the UNIFEM Award of Excellence in 1992 in recognition of her work fostering the role of Thai women.

Organizations across Phuket will today hold celebrations and merit-making ceremonies in honor of Queen Sirikit.

Central Festival Phuket will hold a mothers and daughters fashion show entitled ‘My mom is beautiful’, from 4pm to 5pm.

A candle-lighting ceremony in honor of Queen Sirikit will take place there at 7pm.

Jungceylon in Patong will hold a candle-lighting ceremony at 6pm.

Phuket Rajabhat University will host a variety of activities from 1pm, including a special Mothers’ Day speech; songs and dance; and awards presentations for ‘good mothers’ and for an essay competition.

Rassada Muncipality will hold a mangrove planting ceremony at Chalermprakiat mangrove forest from 9am until noon.

The Grand Opening Ceremony for the new Regional Blood Headquarters on Rattakosin 200 Pee Road in Phuket City will take place between 8:30am and 4:30pm.

As on most other public holidays in Thailand, the sale of alcohol is prohibited.

-- Phuket Gazette 2009-08-12

[george]

Thailand celebrates HM the Queen's birthday

BANGKOK: -- Thai people from all walks of life across the kingdom are celebrating Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s 77th birthday on Wednesday.

Donning blue, the colour of Friday, the day of the week of the Queen’s birth, people in the capital and the provinces offered food to Buddhist monks Wednesday morning to mark her birthday, designated as Thailand’s Mother’s day.

Queen Sirikit granted an audience to Cabinet members and senior government officials at Chitralada Palace on the eve of her birthday.

She was accompanied by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and other members of the royal family.

In her annual birthday speech on Tuesday, Queen Sirikit addressed those who wish her well, and the public at large, saying HM the King is in good health. She said the King has worked for 60 years continuously and follows the progress of 3,000 royally-initiated projects to improve the quality of life of people in the provinces across the country.

Projects under the King’s patronage are intended to help people earn their livelihoods and solve occupationally-related problems such as flooding and saline soils in the South.

The royally-initiated projects also revive local livelihoods like making artificial coral reefs in the southern province of Pattani as a habitat for increasing fish stocks.

Her Majesty the Queen has been the major support for traditional local arts.

Queen Sirikit set up the Bangsai Arts and Craft Center in the central province of Ayutthaya to promote supplementary occupations and related techniques-training for the financially disadvantaged.

The Queen praised their skill, saying their works were recognised by many foreign visitors and buyers from different countries and some of handicrafts are on show at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall.

-- TNA 2009-08-12

[Mario2008]

A very happy brithday to Her Majesty the Queen and a wonderful mothersday for all mothers.

[sunsamourai]

Happy birthday dear Queen !

Today is a great day to plant a tree in her honor !

[george]

Mass candle-lighting ceremony marks HM the Queen's birthday

BANGKOK: -- A sea of candlelight and fireworks lighted the sky over Bangkok's Sanam Luang Wednesday evening to celebrate Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s 77th birthday and to offer blessings for the Queen.

Thousands of Thais thronged to Sanam Luang ceremonial ground, where the mass candle lighting ceremony was held to pray for the Queen on her birthday and to express their loyalty.

Presiding over the ceremony, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on behalf of cabinet members, civil servants and all Thais that the Thai people were pleased to gather here to express their well wishes to the beloved Queen.

Meanwhile, the event was joined by Thai people across the country at 7.29 pm, the auspicious moment when the kingdom basked in the glow of lit candles at home or at designated venues in their provinces countrywide.

Apart from the mass candle-lighting ceremony, there were cultural shows and art performances countrywide to celebrate the Queen’s birthday.

-- TNA 2009-08-12

[animatic]

Happy Birthday wishes to Her Royal Majesty Queen Sirikit.

May she enjoy many more with the abiding love of her family and country men to sustain her.

[gaymandenmark]

My BF called me today to say happy mothers day even if he is into Thaksin, very nice and cute.

[cdnvic]

Happy Birthday Your Majesty.