Eastern Seaboard residents marched, ran, prayed and sang in unison to celebrate the 86th birthday of HM the King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
From Banglamung to Sattahip, celebrants marked Thailand’s national Father’s Day Dec. 5 with 21-gun salutes, parades and Buddhist offerings.
Festivities got underway early at the Banglamung District Office where Chief Sakchai Taengho led a grand merit-making ceremony, offering rice and dried goods to monks from area temples. Well-wishers signed birthday notes for His Majesty before singing the royal anthem and “Sadudee Maharaja” pledging allegiance to Their Majesties.
District Chief Phawat Lertmukda presides over the ceremonies in Sattahip.
Later that afternoon Bunrod Sud-im, president of the Pattaya Team Running Club led more than 100 athletes on a walk-run through Pattaya. Runners began at the Tourism Authority of Thailand Pattaya office on Pratamnak Road, trotting up Second Road, turning left on Central Road and again onto Beach Road. Throughout the race, which traveled through Walking Street, over the Bali Hai flyover and to the finish line at the TAT office, runners shouted “long live the king.”
Chonburi Governor Khomsan Ekachai leads in giving alms to Buddhist monks.
At Royal Garden Plaza, the Lions Club of Pattaya-Taksin organized a merit-making blood drive to benefit Queen Savang Vadhana Hospital in Sriracha. Lions President Watcharapol Siwadechathorn and Tourism Authority of Thailand Pattaya Director Auttaphol Wannakij said students from Banglamung, Bhodhisamphan and Pattaya No. 11 schools attended, bringing the total collected to 25,200 cc of blood.
Tourists marked His Majesty’s birthday at Nong Nooch Tropical Garden, where a 10-year-old elephant painted a remarkably accurate picture of the king.
Central Festival Pattaya Beach organized its own dedication to HM the King, inviting employees and tourists to light candles and write well-wishes. The mall offered up traditional dance performances by youths from Pattaya School No. 3 to entertain those attending.
Tourists also marked His Majesty’s birthday at Nong Nooch Tropical Garden, where a 10-year-old elephant painted a remarkably accurate picture of the king. “Some people didn’t believe that the picture was painted by an elephant’s trunk, which made them curious and wanting to see how they are trained,” said park director, Kampol Tansaja.
Bunrod Sud-im (right), president of the Pattaya Running Club leads members to participate in the Walk-Run on Father’s Day.
About 10,000 people attended the celebrations, which also featured a parade of 15 elephants and one pachyderm laying garlands of flowers on a portrait of the king. On this Father’s Day, two baby elephants presented flower garlands to their father.
The Pattaya celebrations came to a finale in the evening with the start of the annual Father’s Day parade from Royal Garden Plaza to Bali Hai Pier.
Members of the public and organisations line up to place their gold and silver ornaments at the foot of a large portrait of HM the King as a sign of love and loyalty to our revered king.
A large contingent of staff from the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya march in the parade.
Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome led members of the Pattaya City council and the gathering in pledging their allegiance and conveying good wishes to HM the King as candles were lit and the entire crowd united in singing songs of praise to Their Majesties the King and Queen. Fireworks lit the night sky bring the happy celebrations to a close.
In Chonburi, Gov. Khomsan Ekachai presided over the merit-making ceremony of Phra Phutta Sihing with 108 monks were performing Dhammachakkapavattana Sutta reading.
Pattaya citizens sing the national anthem along the Walk-Run route.
More than 2,000 citizens gave alms to 87 monks, representing the start of the monarch’s 87th year. The governor offered flowers and lit candles as all sang royal hymns.
Many of the same ceremonies played out across the Eastern Seaboard. In Sattahip, District Chief Phawat Lertmukda presided over the largest ceremony, complete with prayers and flower presentations. Nine monks did similar chanting at Sattahip Police Station.
Sophon Cable TV employees join the celebrations to honour HM the King.
The Royal Thai Navy attracted 2,000 people to its commemoration, where Vice Adm. Rernglit Boonsongprasert lit candles, opened the flower cone presentations and led singing at the Prince Chumphon Garden.
Students from Pattaya School No. 9 performed beautiful Thai dances.
Foreign tourists get into the act, waving HM the King’s flags, celebrating Father’s Day on Pattaya Beach Road.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome lights candles to begin the ceremonies.
Thawit Chaiswangwong, chairman of the Pattaya city council leads city councilors in placing their auspicious ornaments.
Extravagant fireworks brought the celebrations to a happy end.
Pratheep Malhotra, MD of Pattaya Mail Media Group, assisted by two of his sons Dave and Prince, place the gold and silver ornaments expressing love and loyalty to HM the King.
Wannapha Wannasri (left) from the Pattaya Education Office and Pratheep Malhotra (right), MD of Pattaya Mail Media Group, emcee the evening in Thai and English.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome leads city councilors in the candlelight ceremony.
Citizens join in the solemn candle lighting ceremony.
Naval school cadets take part in the ceremony.
Thousands of local people light candles in celebration of HM the King’s birthday.
