BMA Pulled Down Old Giant Swing Post For Repairs

[Jai Dee]

BMA pulled down old Giant Swing post

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has pulled down the Old Giant Swing located outside the premises of the BMA building. The BMA will have the Old Giant Swing moved to Ayutthaya Province.

Bangkok Deputy Governor Pichai Chaiyapojpanich (นายพิชัย ไชยพจต์พานิชย์) told the media that craftsmen had cut the top part of the post and covered it with a metal frame to protect it from posssible damages when transporting to Ayutthaya.

BMA is finishing the post removal later today and delivering it to Ayutthaya. This part of Giant Swing’s old post will be inspected and its pattern will be copied by the fine arts department before a new one is made. It is expected to be completed within a month. Moreover, BMA will pull down the rest of the two 16-meter-long old posts and four smaller posts in the next few days.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 25 October 2006

[taxexile]

that swing has been there for nearly a century , if not longer.

does anybody know the reason why is it being moved to ayuttaya.

wouldnt it have been easier , cheaper and more appropriate to have left the swing here alone and built and erected the copy swing in ayuttaya.

[lopburi3]

The report above is very misleading. The swing is being replaced due to rot of the wood and the top is being sent to Ayutthaya for the craftsmen to copy for the new swing.

[MiG16]

I hope we still have our swing its the only landmark closeby to where I am that anybody will recognise...yes including local taxi drivers

i want my swing!!!

[londonthai]

so the monks will be able to swing again

[taxexile]

The report above is very misleading. The swing is being replaced due to rot of the wood and the top is being sent to Ayutthaya for the craftsmen to copy for the new swing.

so many of those tnb news reports are misleading , and are replaced minutes later with even more misleading and contradictory reports.

i suspect the fault lies in the translations of these reports and i think the translators need cutting down and being moved to ayutthaya

[Jai Dee]

Update:

Swinging again :Two cranes erect the capital’s rebuilt Giant Swing ahead of Brahmin rituals scheduled for tomorrow.

Source: The Nation - 23 December 2006

[Jai Dee]

BMA will raise the complete Giant Swing before noon today

The new Giant Swing is about to rise in Bangkok to continue providing the age-old landmark in place of the old structure that was badly damaged.

The Giant Swing has been a symbol of Bangkok for as long as 222 years. Many residents of the capital city were distressed when the previous Giant Swing was removed from its post in October, 2 years after the city administration found that it has critically deteriorated.

The search for wood that would make up the new Giant Swing ended in May this year, after 6 golden teak trees that met the requirements were found in Phrae province. They were cut down and taken to Ayutthaya to be processed by the Forest Industry Organization. All of the wood have now been completely processed and decorated; readied for their function as landmark in front of Suthatthep Wararam Ratcha Woramahawiharn (สุทัศน์เทพวรารามราชวรมหาวิหาร) Temple, or Wat Suthat.

The new Giant Swing will have a lifespan of between 70-100 years, much longer than the previous Giant Swing that was used for only 45 years. While the pillars of the previous swing were each made with 3 segments of conjoining trunks, the pillars on the new structure would each be made of a single trunk. The pillars would also be placed above ground level, which would spare them from rainwater and moisture; factors that heavily contributed to the damage on the previous structure, which had a portion of its pillars laid below ground level.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration yesterday (December 22) erected the main pillars of the new swing. The whole structure will be put into place today at 11.15 am, amidst the accompanying religious rituals.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 23 December 2006

[Jai Dee]

Swing nearly ready

The Giant Swing was completed yesterday with the hoisting of a one-tonne decorative beam atop the 23-metre-tall twin pillars.

Renovation work at the base will take another month. The date for a three-day, three-night inauguration will be set after Bangkok officials contact the Royal Household Bureau to notify His Majesty the King over who will preside.

Souvenirs will be sold, including commemorative books and an official journal recording the erection of the new Swing and history of all past Swings.

Source: The Nation - 9 January 2007

[george]

Giant Swing celebrations in August

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will organise a two-day celebration for the new Giant Swing in August, Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said yesterday.

The new swing - made from six teak trees over 100 years old and felled in Phrae - will replace the old swing that has been scarred by weather for 224 years.

The red wooden landmark, known in Thai as Sao Ching Cha on Bamrungmuang Road is a national historic site.

Apirak revealed that the BMA was informed that His Majesty the King had accepted its request to preside over the celebration, which the city initially planned to hold in August at the "Lan Khon Muang" plaza in front of the City Hall.

The exact date will be determined later.

The city plans to organise the Giant Swing celebration over two days. The first day will include historical exhibitions and general celebrations, while the second day will be devoted to royal-presiding Brahmin and Buddhist rites plus the Fine Arts Department's Khon drama about the Bangkok Capital City building for the royal audience, Apirak said.

The BMA will also produce souvenirs for this auspicious occasion with two series of Phra Sao Ching Cha amulets (Phra Sri Sakayamuni and Phra Trimurti), for which the BMA will open for reservations until July 26, when the Maha Buddhapisek ceremony attended by 100 Buddhist monks will be held.

Other souvenirs include a Giant Swing history book, special edition stamps and Giant Swing miniatures, Apirak said.

The BMA will also hand out Nakhonthansutra holy water to those attending the celebrations.

Apirak said the profits made from the souvenirs would help establish the Sao Ching Cha Restoration Fund and hold activities with Phrae.

--The Nation 2007-06-19

[Jai Dee]

Supreme Patriarch bestows incense powder for the construction of new Giant Swing

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin discloses that the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand has bestowed the incense powder for the construction of the new Giant Swing.

Mr. Apirak says the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) officials have received the incense powder from the Supreme Patriarch on July 7th at Chula Hospital in Pathumwan district.

Mr. Apirak says the incense powder is a sacred powder consisting of materials from the old Giant Swing, ancient woods, and other holy matters from nine temples in each of the 76 provinces of Thailand.

Venerable monks of Thailand have also imprinted mystic symbols into the incense powder.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 10 July 2007

[Jai Dee]

BMA gears up for celebration of renovated Giant Swing

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin (อภิรักษ์ โกษะโยธิน) instructs all relevant units to cooperate with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) in arranging the celebration of the Giant Swing from September 11th – 13th. His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen are scheduled to attend the celebration on September 12th at 17.00 hrs.

Highlights of the celebration include exhibitions of the Giant Swing’s history and award-winning photographs of the swing. The exhibition is being held at the “Lan Khon Mueang” (ลานคนเมือง) park in front of the Bangkok City Hall. BMA will also prepare trams to take passengers around the Rattanakosin (รัตนโกสินทร์) Island.

BMA will hold a press conference on details of the celebration and religious ceremonies of the renovated Giant Swing.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 28 August 2007

[Jimjim]

Wish I could be there. I've always wanted to see it used.

[Jai Dee]

BMA launches a city circle tram to view the newly constructed Giant Swing

BMA governor took the media via tram to examine the preparation to celebrate the newly built Giant Swing scheduled to kick off from September 11th-13th.

Bangkok Governor Mr.Apirak Kosayodhin (อภิรักษ์ โกษะโยธิน) together with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) executives has taken the group of media on the sightseeing trip around the Rattanakosin (กรุงรัตนโกสินทร์) inner city. BMA is launching a three day celebration of the Giant Swing from September 11th to 13th with a free city circle trams. The tram trip would start from “Lan Khon Mueang” (ลานคนเมือง) to Bamrungmuang (บำรุงเมือง), and Mahachai (มหาชัย) road, then straight to the Democracy (อนุสาวรีย์ประชาธิปไตย) Monument and then returning back to the BMA office passing through Kalayanamitre (กัลยาณไมตรี) road.

The city circle tram will take passengers on touring places include Wat Suthatthepwararam (สุทัศน์เทพวราราม), Mahakan Fortress (ป้อมมหากาฬ), Lan Plub Pla Jetsadabodin (ลานพลับพลาเจษฎาบดินทร์), Loha Prasat (โลหะปราสาท) at Wat Ratchanatdaram (วัดราชนัดดารามวรวิหาร), and Lak Muang Shrine (City Pillar Shrine).

Mr.Apirak invites members of the public to join the celebration and activities organized by the BMA free of charges.

His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen are scheduled to attend the celebration of the Giant Swing on September 12th at 17.00 hrs.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 10 September 2007

[Jai Dee]

City workers prepare the Giant Swing and its surrounds for this week’s celebrations after the major renovation.

Source: The Nation - 10 September 2007

[Jimjim]

So is the tram only in use for the celebration?

[Jai Dee]

BMA to arrange celebration of new Giant Swing

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin (อภิรักษ์ โกษะโยธิน) reports that the celebration of the new Giant Swing is scheduled to take place three days from September 11th – 13th in front of the Bangkok City Hall. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) invites people to welcome Their Majesties the King and Queen who will preside over the celebration today at 17.00 hrs.

The governor encourages people to wear yellow t-shirts to show their allegiance to the Thai monarchy.

The ceremony to celebrate the Giant Swing on September 12th will begin at 07.00 hrs. BMA will arrange a food offering ceremony to monks on their alms round, followed by Brahman rituals.

From 18.00 – 22.00 hrs of the three days, there will be performances by national artists from the Fine Arts Department.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 12 September 2007

[Jai Dee]

Giant Swing ready to receive royal blessing from the King

The final touches were completed yesterday for today's historic royal ceremony to bless the refurbished Giant Swing.

Their Majesties the King and Queen are scheduled to preside over the inauguration ceremony at the plaza of the Giant Swing in front of City Hall at 5pm.

Chief Royal Brahmin Phrarajakhru Varma Dhepmuni, who supervised the final preparations, said details of the sacred procedures for yesterday and today follow those taken when the Giant Swing was first built during the reign of King Rama I more than 200 years ago.

Today will start with alms-giving for Buddhist monks at 9am, followed by a Brahmin rite, he said.

"The most important part of the ceremony comes when HM the King sprinkles holy water on the two new Giant Swing pillars. This symbolises peaceful living and the well-being of the people," he said.

The timing for the royal ritual to be performed by the King today was not fixed in accordance with any particular religious belief, as His Majesty's presence was more auspicious than any astrological calculation, he said.

After sprinkling holy water on the Giant Swing's new posts, the King will give strips of pink cloth to Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin to tie around them as part of the baptism rite, he added.

Source: The Nation - 12 September 2007

[Mid]

Wish I could be there. I've always wanted to see it used.

on local TV tonight @ 5 pm ,

not used anymore , TTBOMK

here's an old pic

thai-blogs.com

Giant Swing in Bangkok

Written by Richard Barrow

[Jimjim]

Like i said before I did see a year or two ago that it was in use, but probably just as a demonstration. There was a big crowd there, and it was on television.