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Chakri Day, The Day To Reminisce The Great Rulers


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Special Report: Chakri Day, the day to reminisce our great rulers

On 6 April every year, the public Thai holiday of Chakri day marks the anniversary of the Chakri Dynastry which was founded by Phra Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke or King Rama I in 1782. It is celebrated by paying respect to all of the Kings in the Chakri dynasty, to give thanks to their dedication and contributions to Thailand.

King Rama I was born on 20 March 1737 and came to the throne on 6 April 1782. He was the founder of the Chakri Dynasty and the City of Angels, also known as Bangkok. He ruled the country for 28 years and passed away on 7 September 1809 at 72. He is a remembered as a great lawmaker, a poet, an accomplished statesman and a devout Buddhist.

The name of Siam was changed to Thailand during this period, which marked a new era of never-ending transformations and creations in many aspects, including languages, cultures, literature, art, trade, education and more. Currently, there are nine kings in the dynasty. The latest and current king is His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej or King Rama IX.

The ceremony of Chakri day will be annually held in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha where the statues of five kings, including King Rama I, II, III, IV, and V, were housed since the reign of King Rama VI. The establishment of the statues of five kings was initiated by the King Rama VI with an aim to allow all Thais to reminisce and pay respect to all deceased kings who played important roles in shaping Thailand. King Rama V was the last statue which was completely and elaborately built, decorated and placed in the area of the temple on 6 April 1918 which later was officially declared as Chakri day. Earlier, the states of King Rama I, II, III and IV had been removed several times before being placed in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, adjacent to the statue of King Rama V. The temple of the Emerald Buddha was also built by King Rama I and later fully restored in the reigns of Kings Rama III, V, VII and IX.

In conjunction with the ceremony, a religious ceremony will be presided over by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, accompanied by members of the royal family in order to give merit to all deceased rulers at the Royal Chapel and to pay respect to His Majesty’s Predecessors at the Royal Pantheon. His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and his royal family will later lay a wreath at the statue of King Rama I at the Memorial Bridge.

At the same time, all Thai people from every sector, including the Prime Minister, Ministers, government officers, high ranking officers, students, and workers from public and private organizations will participate in the ceremony to make offerings of flowers and garlands at the many statues of Kings in the House of Chakri. This is a Thai way of making merit and showing appreciation for the great kings who devoted themselves with great determination and effort for the betterment of Thailand. Some great accomplishments include the dissemination of religion in the reign of King Rama IV and the abolishment of slavery in the reign of King Rama V.

If we turn Thailand’s historical pages back, we will know that all of our great rulers showed great determination and put great effort into building, defending, and creating Thailand to what we are today.

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-- NNT 2010-04-06

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