Phuket prepares to honour ‘Thai Father’ who turns 87 on December 5

[Lite Beer]

Phuket prepares to honour ‘Thai Father’ who turns 87 on December 5
Suthicha Sirirat

PHUKET: Tens of thousands of special yellow T-shirts have entered into Phuket circulation today, and millions more elsewhere in the kingdom, as the Thai people prepare to honour their beloved Monarch, who turns 87 on Friday (December 5).

Many of the shirts have an image of the King, and display messages such as “Ruck Por” (Love Dad) and “Poom Jai Gerd Bpen Look Por” (Proud to be the child of Dad)

The birthday of His Majesty King Bhumiphol Aduljadej is also celebrated as the National Father’s Day. The colour yellow is commonly associated with HM the King, who was born on a Monday, which is represented by the colour yellow in Thai custom.

The Thai government, from Bangkok down to Phuket, has asked subjects and visitors to the Kingdom alike, to wear yellow colour this Friday, which is a public holiday that will see government offices and many private businesses shut for the day.

Several official rites are planned in Phuket on that day as follows:

Starting at 6.30am, Phuket officials to take part in a Buddhist merit making and alms granting ceremony involving 87 monks at Queens Park (Chalerm Prakiet 72 Punsa Maha Rachanee) in Phuket Town.

Then, from 8.30am, subjects, revealers and commoners alike are invited to sign their names in a book in honor of HM the King, which will be accessible at the Meeting Hall of Rajbhat Phuket University. This will be followed by an “Outstanding Civil Cervant” awards ceremony at 10.30am.

Later in the day, starting 4.30pm, the nationwide candle lighting ceremony is set to commence, which includes the singing of nine songs devoted to HM the King.

In the meantime, there will be a fun festival staged at the fair grounds at Saphan Hin Park on the Phuket Town’s coastline, in honour of HM the King’s 87th birthday, held in the evenings all this week from Monday, December 1 through to Friday.

The Phuket News is still awaiting official confirmation as to whether alcohol sales on Father's Day will be banned on the island or not (see original story here).

Soang Phra Charoen – Long Live the King!

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-prepares-to-honour-%E2%80%98thai-father%E2%80%99-who-turns-87-on-december-5-49907.php

-- Phuket News 2014-11-29