Millions welcome 2016 with prayers

BANGKOK: 18 million mark new year with religious ceremonies to make merit around country

MORE THAN 18 million people participated in prayers to usher in the New Year at 22,967 Buddhist temples and key sites nationwide, Deputy Prime Minister General Thanasak Patimapragorn said yesterday.

Citing a report on the countdown prayers, organised by the Culture Ministry's Religious Affairs Department and 23 related agencies and allies, Thanasak said the number of people attending the prayers rose by 1.2 million compared with last year.

"Plus we had the 'Asean New Year prayer' at 14 border provinces, including Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Tak, Mukdahan, Ranong and Songkhla, while Thais of Christian and Sikh faiths organised their own rituals and prayers," he said.

He also praised the agencies that organised prayer events for the underprivileged, juvenile offenders and prison inmates.

On the morning of New Year's Day 2016, Thais across the nation participated in merit-making ceremonies for good luck and offered good wishes to their loved ones.

Many palaces including the Royal Palace in Bangkok also opened doors for people to wish Their Majesties the King and Queen a Happy New Year.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his wife joined Cabinet members and their spouses in full uniform to sign a book wishing Their Majesties well at 9am yesterday, before senior officials and foreign diplomats as well as members of the public queued up to sign the book all day yesterday.

In Narathiwat's Muang district, the Thaksin Rachanivet Palace opened its doors for officials and the public to write their good wishes for Their Majesties and members of the Royal Family.

In Bangkok's Sanam Luang, Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra led a ceremony for people to give alms to 189 Buddhist monks. Many people also used this opportunity to pay their respects to the sacred Phra Buddha Nawaraj Bopit statue, which was temporarily enshrined there for the New Year, before being returned to City Hall later yesterday.

Alms-giving rites and related merit-making activities were also held across the country.

In the northeastern province of Nong Khai, Thai and Lao people joined in offering alms to 59 monks, while some 5,000 people in Nakhon Ratchasima offered food to 199 monks at the Thao Suranaree Monument Plaza.

Up North, thousands of Chiang Mai residents and tourists attended an alms-offering ceremony to 359 monks in front of Chiang Mai University.

In the central province of Lop Buri, governor Panu Yaemsri presided over the annual ritual to change the symbolic robe of the sacred 300-year-old Buddha image, Luangpor Tho, at Wat Sao Thong Thong.

Down South, some 10,000 people in Surat Thani province offered dried food to 109 monks at the City Pillar Shrine.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Millions-welcome-2016-with-prayers-30276001.html

-- The Nation 2016-01-02

I miss the photo of the photo of the middle finger monk here.

The country needs action otherwise it doesn't have a pray.