King's birthday festivities begin
Bangkok Post: 2 Dec 2010
GRAND OCCASION
King's birthday festivities dazzle crowdsThe nation has entered into the spirit of celebrations as the nine-day official festival to celebrate the 83rd birthday of His Majesty the King kicks off.
"Our Land" is the theme of the auspicious festival which began yesterday and will run to next Thursday during which state agencies, the private sector and people of all groups and religions are taking part in the celebration activities nationwide.
In the capital, the key sites of festivities, where a wide range of activities are held daily from 5pm to midnight, include the Royal Plaza, Si Ayutthaya Road, Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue, the area in front of the Supreme Court and the Siriraj Hospital compound.
The Royal Plaza accommodates exhibitions and government organisation shops from all 20 ministries while Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue hosts exhibition booths and shops decorated in the local architecture of each region.
Eighteen provinces in all regions are taking part in the celebration activities on this road.
Private companies and state enterprises are joining the celebrations on Si Ayutthaya Road. They have opened a shop and exhibition booths.
Local communities from 50 districts in Bangkok are also setting up booths and shops on Si Ayutthaya Road.
The celebrations begin each day with 84 monks making their rounds at the Royal Plaza to receive alms from the public.
The main exhibition, "Thai Culture under His Majesty", has been organised near the main stage at the Royal Plaza.
The exhibition is a showcase of the King's contributions to culture and the arts and his patronage of all religions in Thailand.
The Interior Ministry has built a pavilion where seven short films produced specifically for the King's birthday celebrations are screened.
The same set of movies is also being screened at select theatres free of charge.
The Religious Affairs Department is organising a mass Buddhist ordination for 7,056 men to mark the occasion. Other religious ceremonies such as Islamic, Christian and Brahmin prayer meetings are being held to mark the King's birthday.
The Information and Communication Technology Ministry has opened its website to enable well-wishers to send their birthday greetings to the King on the internet.
The Royal Household Bureau has announced that Their Majesties the King and Queen are to grant an audience to cabinet ministers, members of parliament, the armed forces leaders and other dignitaries at Amarin Winitchai Throne Hall at the Grand Palace at 10.30am this Sunday.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/209254/king-birthday-festivities-dazzle-crowds [attachment deleted by admin]
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