Tens of thousands will flood Beach Road Saturday for Pattaya’s largest public event to mourn HM the late King.
The 76 Million Hearts Mourn His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej event begins at 6 p.m. Nov. 19 with the main stage located at the intersection of Central Road. Beach Road will be closed from 3 p.m. and everyone is encouraged to arrive no later than 5 p.m.
Planning meetings led by Pattaya Acting Mayor Chanapong Sriviset and community leaders were held Nov. 9 and 11 to map out details on the program schedule, food booths, parking and security.
Whilst the organisers held daily meetings to plan the event, Alisa Phanthusak MD of Woodlands Resort and Tiffany’s cabaret invited leaders of the expat community to a meeting at the Grappa Restaurant to brief them of the upcoming memorial and to request their wholehearted participation in the somber ceremony.
Alisa said the event will be very respectful and solemn and said everyone attending should dress in black or subdued mourning colors, and bring a white candle with them to light during the ceremony.
Parking will be available in over 20 locations, including shopping malls as far away as Tesco Lotus North Pattaya and Big C South Pattaya. Schools will also offer parking, including Pattaya Schools No. 5 and 7, and Banglamung School. Closer parking locations include Central Festival Pattaya Beach, The Avenue Galleria, and Pattaya School No. 8.
Free shuttles to the event venue will be available to people parking in areas located out of walking distance to the ceremony. The shuttles will be clearly marked and they will provide the service only until 3 pm when Beach Road will be completely closed to traffic. At the end of the ceremony commuters should get on the same color-tagged shuttle that they came on to take them back via the same route.
Food and beverage stalls will be scattered around the entire Beach Road area to feed the huge crowd of Thais and foreigners expected.
Police and soldiers will handle security and traffic management, and medical units will be on standby for any emergencies.
The event itself will be extensive and varied, with more than 1,000 boats lined offshore to show unity with the tens of thousands on land.
The ceremony includes video presentations, an interview with Peter Cummins, writer, historian and sailor about his meetings and sailing experiences with His Majesty the King, guests singers and children will lead the crowd in singing ‘Tonmai Kong Por’ (Father’s Tree), and national artists ‘Mo Lam’ Chaweewan Dumnern and ‘Khaen Master’ Acharn Ohn Khaenkhiaw will perform ‘Lam Long’ (a traditional northeastern song).
All lights will be turned off in shops along Beach Road as the gathering observes 89 seconds of silence while Professor Tanis Sriglindee plays His Majesty the King’s royal composition ‘The Impossible Dream’ on his ‘Klui’ – Traditional Thai Flute.
Chonburi Governor Pakarathorn Thienchai will read a message expressing our grief and sadness over the loss of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and lead the gathering in pledging loyalty and obedience to His Majesty the King’s advice and teachings, and to dedicate our lives in the service of our motherland.
