BANGKOK, Aug 12 – Millions of Thai people throughout the country on Friday offered alms to Buddhist monks and joined with several public charities to celebrate Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s 79th birthday, which also marks National Mother’s Day.
People flocked to Sanam Luang ceremonial ground this morning to participate in an alms giving ceremony, co-hosted by Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and relevant agencies. Food was offered to 990 monks in a ceremony chaired by Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra.
In the northeastern province of Yasothon, Governor Pongsak Nakprada led local officials, soldiers, police and residents to give food to monks during morning alms rounds on the lawn in front of city hall, aiming to make merit on the Queen’s birthday.
The governor also presented eyeglasses donated by the Thai Red Cross to the head of the Yasothon municipality, in order to give them to 350 elderly persons in 23 communities.
Meanwhile, Pol Maj-Gen Kanitsorn Noinart, commander of Kalasin provincial police, police officers and people in Kalasin donated blood as a good deed on this auspicious occasion.
Mahasarakham Hospital set up a mobile unit for blood donation activity in municipal areas. The activity can draw a lot of residents to donate their blood.
In Buri Ram, Governor Thanee Samartkit together with local authorities and people from all walks of life offered alms to 99 Buddhist monks.
Similar alms offering events in the morning were also seen countrywide, including in the provinces of Lamphun, Phuket, Patthalung and Ratchaburi.
Donning blue and pink shirts, some 5,000 Surat Thani residents, local officials and military personnel led by Governor Theerayuth Iamtrakul gave food to monks and released fish and prawns in the Tapee River.
