Thai king celebrations in December 2007

Kingdom ready to celebrate; Bangkok will play host to some grand events to mark His Majesty the King's 80th birthday.
454 words
2 December 2007
Bangkok Post
2
English
(c) 2007

DECEMBER 2

4pm: His Majesty the King inspects the Royal Guards in an annual parade at the Royal Plaza.

DECEMBER 3

8am: The prime minister leads groups of civil servants to swear an oath of allegiance at Government House. Across the country provincial governors preside over oath-taking ceremonies for government officials at provincial halls.

4.19-4.49pm: The prime minister, the president of the National Legislative Assembly and the Supreme Court president preside over a ceremony to make lustral water at Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram.

5.30-6.30pm: A religious ceremony is held to mark His Majesty's birthday at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

DECEMBER 4

9am-5pm: Members of the public sign a book offering their best wishes to the King in the compound of the Grand Palace.

4pm: Members of the cabinet, high-ranking state officials and groups of individuals are granted an audience with the King at Dusitalai Pavilion in Chitralada Palace.

9pm: A fireworks display at the Royal Turf Club (Nang Lerng Race Course), which will be viewed after the royal audience.

DECEMBER 5

7am: "Do Good Deeds for the Father" event at the statue of the Earth Goddess.

7.30am: A procession of lustral water from Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram to Chakri Maha Prasart Throne Hall.

10.30am: His Majesty meets a congregation of people at Chakri Maha Prasart Throne Hall.

1-5pm: Members of the public sign a book offering their best wishes to the King in the compound of the Grand Palace.

5.45pm: The King attends a state ceremony at Amarin Vinijchai Throne Hall.

5.30pm: A procession of royal offerings takes place at Sanam Luang.

7.19pm: The prime minister presides over a candlelight ceremony at Sanam Luang to mark the King's birthday.

8pm onwards: A fireworks display on the Chao Phraya river, from the Rama IX bridge to the Industrial Ring Road bridge.

DECEMBER 6

9am-5pm: Members of the public sign a book offering their best wishes to the King in the compound of the Grand Palace.

10.30am: His Majesty makes offerings to monks at the Amarin Vinijchai Throne Hall.

8.30pm: A fireworks display at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club (Pathumwan Race Course).

DECEMBER 7

7pm: Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presides over a grand reception attended by diplomats and dignitaries at Government House.

DECEMBER 8

5.30pm: Foreign diplomats are granted an audience with the King at the Dusitalai Pavilion in Chitralada Palace.

8.30pm: A fireworks display at Suan Benjakitti near the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.