Souksaan wankeud – Happy birthday, King Bhumibol.
The Thai monarch is turning 86 today. He was born on the 5th December 1927 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA where his father Mahidol Adulyadej studied medicine in Harvard at that time. His father died in September 1929. Four years later Bhumibol Adulyadej moved to Switzerland with his mother, his older brother and his older sister, where he went to school and university. On the 9th June 1946 he became the king of Thailand after his older brother King Ananda Mahidol died under mysterious circumstances on that day.
Currently Bhumibol is the head of state in the world with the longest term of office, he is reigning even longer than Queen Elizabeth II. Bhumibol Adulyadej was officially crowned king on the 5th May 1950. His wife Sirikit,who he has married two years before, was named to be queen the same day.
King Bhumibol is deeply worshipped by the thai people. Last year I was lucky to be in Bangkok for the king’s birthday. As I wanted to see how the locals celebrate their king, I decided to mingle with the locals.
Everywhere festive decorations are setup to honour the king.
The public express boats were full of people, many of them wore yellow T-Shirts, the colour of the loyals to the crown. The boat piers were decorated with countless small thai flags. From Tha Tien Pier, the boat pier No. 8, I walked to the Sanam Luan, a huge place on the opposite side of Wat Phra Kaeo, the Grand Palace. Everywhere huge pictures of the king were lined up. People in the streets enlightened candles and sang birthday songs for him. People were incredibly friendly, offering me drinks and wishing me all the best.
Boat piers decorated with countless thai flags. People wearing yellow, the colour of the loyals to the crown.
Everywhere huge pictures of King Bhumibol, partially with Queen Sirikit, are lined up
Wat Arun, “the Temple of Dawn”, is illuminated every night.
Father and son honouring the king
People in the streets enlightening candles and singing a birthday song for the king.
When I passed by the Grand Palace, the gates, which are normally closed at night, were opened. The guards in front of the palace allowed me to take a few photos. On the Sanam Luang was a huge stage where female dancers performed to honour the king. The place was full of people who were sitting in the meadow, having a picnic, enlightening candles and huge lanterns which they let fly. What an amazing atmosphere! I am glad that I had the chance to join the ceremonies once.
Illuminated Wat Phra Kaeo
Hallo Vanessa,
den Geburtstag des Königs hätte ich auch einmal gerne erlebt, aber war immer zu anderen Zeiten in Thailand. Vielleicht klappt es ja später einmal. Ich kann mir gut vorstellen, wie intensiv die Thais das Fest begehen, abends ihre Lichter entzünden und die beleuchteten Ballons steigen lassen. Das machen Deine Bilder sehr deutlich.
Die Verehrung für den König, auch für die Königinmutter, ist in ganz Thailand, vor allem im Norden zu sehen, wo noch zahlreiche Blumen- und andere landwirtschaftliche Betriebe von ihren Wohltaten zu sehen sind (auch zugunsten von Flüchtlingen aus Burma und anderen Ländern).
Marie
Vielen Dank für Deine netten Worte, Marie. Ein Aufenthalt in Thailand während des Geburtstages des Königs ist auf jeden Fall ein Erlebnis und allein schon eine Reise wert. Ich wünsche Dir, dass Du irgendwann mal die Gelegenheit hast, diesen Tag im Land selbst miterleben zu können.