Hua Hin: Crowds gather to honour King

[webfact]

CORONATION DAY
Crowds gather to honour King
The Nation



Visitors mass in Hua Hin to pay tribute to beloved monarch

HUA HIN: -- Thousands upon thousands of people, dressed in yellow, gathered at different locations to mark Coronation Day yesterday, with the biggest ceremony held in the resort town of Hua Hin, where His Majesty the King currently resides. Yesterday marked His Majesty's 64th year on the throne.

In Hua Hin, thousands of locals and visitors began assembling on Phetchkasem Road from Sunday night so they could catch a glimpse of His Majesty when his motorcade drove past yesterday.

Many of the King's loyal subjects shed tears of joy to see their beloved monarch in good health, and the "Long live the King" chant was heard loud and far.

Homes and buildings throughout the district were decorated with yellow banners carrying goodwill messages and the Royal emblem.

At around 10.30am, His Majesty arrived at Rajapracha Samakhom Pavilion at Klai Kangwon Palace and presided over a Buddhist ceremony, before leaving at around 11am. The King, who is 86, did not make a speech.

Instead, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn conducted rituals to bless the royal umbrella, crown jewels and other royal accessories and emblems on behalf of the King. After this, the three branches of the Armed Forces conducted a 21-gun salute.

Religious ceremonies

In Bangkok, Phra Thep Bidorn Palace in the Emerald Buddha Temple was opened from 8am to 5pm to allow the public to pay their respects to the previous kings of the Chakri Dynasty, whose statues are inside the building. Thousands of people attended government events held at city halls around the country to mark Coronation Day.

Sinchai Saengsin, a fruit farmer from Kanchanaburi, and his wife went to Prachuap Khiri Khan province on Saturday to visit a project initiated by His Majesty before reserving a place in front of Klai Kangwon Palace on Sunday morning.

Angkhawipha Adisakwatthana, 50, who grows and sells organic vegetables based on the King's self-sufficiency principle, arrived in Hua Hin on Saturday to catch a glimpse of His Majesty for the first time.

In Bangkok, a march by the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee was organised, with supporters wearing yellow as requested by the protest leader. They converged in large numbers outside the temple of the Emerald Buddha to hold a ceremony to honour the King. Other ceremonies were held elsewhere in the capital.


-- The Nation 2014-05-06