Princess Sirindhorn to preside over Chinese New Year celebration at China Town today

[webfact]

Princess Sirindhorn to preside over Chinese New Year celebration at China Town today



BANGKOK: -- Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will this afternoon preside over the celebration of the Chinese New Year at Bangkok's China Town or locally known as Yaowarat.

The official opening ceremony will begin 5 pm at the Chalermphrakiat China Gate.

Traffic at China Town will be closed during the celebration today and tomorrow from midday to midnight.

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha will also lead his cabinet ministers to welcome Her Royal Highness and take part in the grand celebration of the event today.

This year’s celebration of the Chinese New Year or the Year of the Monkey is grander than the previous years as 2016 marks His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 70th anniversary of accession to the throne and the 88th birthday anniversary, as well as Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s seventh cycle or 84th birthday anniversary.

It also marks the 41st year of Sino-Thai diplomatic relations, and the 12th anniversary of cooperation between Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Chinese Ministry of Culture in co-hosting the Chinese New Year celebrations in Thailand, according to TAT.

This year, the Chinese New Year celebrations which begin during February 5-15 are held at 13 major towns nationwide.

They are Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Sawan, Ayutthaya, Suphan Buri, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chon Buri, Song Khla, Phuket, Trang and Udon Thani.

In Bangkok’s China Town today, it is decorated with thousands of red lanterns with New Year greeting message putting up on the Yaowarat road as it is set to kick off the grand scale festival today to welcome the Year of the Monkey.

The main roads and small sois will be closed to traffic and will instead feature gorgeous lanterns and stage shows for two days.

The Nation reported that festival-goers can pray for a harmonious and healthy year to the Ksitigarbha Buddha Image, which the Chinese Government is installing especially for the occasion.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/149983


-- Thai PBS 2016-02-08

[SOTIRIOS]

...isn't Chinatown.....one word....???

[Nobb]

The Princess is a great and smart lady. Kind to the people just like her father. She should be the heir to the throne in Thailand!

[Thechook]

Please don't let Prayuth speak, he will hijack the event to speak about himself and how he created the New Year to bring happiness to the Thai people. The event will become a circus if the clown isn't kept in control.