April 6 marks the anniversary of the establishment of the Chakri dynasty, of which the present ruling monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is the ninth king. Thai people celebrate this special day to pay respect to their past rulers as well as to give thanks to their dedication and contributions to the Kingdom of Thailand.
The Chakri dynasty was founded 230 years ago by King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke, or Rama I. Born on March 20, 1737, he ascended to the throne on April 6, 1782. Well-versed in warfare, politics, religion, arts and culture, the primary monarch of the Chakri dynasty founded the Kingdom of Rattanakosin, with the City of Angels, or Bangkok, as its capital. The king took it upon himself to restore the nation back to its former glory after having been engaged in a long period of continuous battles. Determined to achieve this goal, the ruler dedicated time and money to build the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha as well as reviving all kinds of art, including architecture, literature and carving, among others; all the while not forgetting his duty to defend the Kingdom against its enemies.
Ruling for 28 glorious years, King Rama I passed away on September 7, 1809, at the age of 72. He is remembered as a great lawmaker, an accomplished poet, and a devout Buddhist. Grateful for his contributions to the nation, the title of “the Great” was conferred upon the first king of the Chakri dynasty on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the founding of Rattanakosin.
Chakri Day was first celebrated on April 6, 1918, during the reign of King Rama VI. The king commanded that the statues of five kings, including King Rama I, King Rama II, King Rama III, King Rama IV, and King Rama V, were to be housed in the Prasat Phra Dhepbidorn, or the Royal Pantheon, in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, to allow all Thais to reminisce and pay respect to all the deceased kings, who had played important roles in shaping the Thai nation.
As part of the celebration, a religious ceremony is usually presided over by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, accompanied by members of the royal family, in order to make merit and pay respect to His Majesty’s Predecessors. At the same time, Thai people from all walks of life will make offerings of flowers and garlands to the statues of the past kings of the House of Chakri. This is a Thai way of showing gratitude to our rulers’ devotion to the betterment of Thailand.
Looking back on the Thai history, we feel indebted to all of our great monarchs for their determination and effort in building, defending and creating Thailand into the nation it is today.
