60th Anniversary Celebrations of Bhumibol Adulyadej's Accession

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The Sixtieth Anniversary Celebrations of Bhumibol Adulyadej's Accession to the Throne 2006
(งานฉลองสิริราชสมบัติครบ ๖๐ ปี พ.ศ. ๒๕๔๙)
Name The Sixtieth Anniversary Celebrations of Bhumibol Adulyadej's Accession to the Throne 2006
Date/Time 1 January—31 December 2006
Place Flag of Thailand Thailand
Arranger The Royal Thai Government
Occasion Celebrating the 60th Year of Bhumibol Adulyadej on throne

The Sixtieth Anniversary Celebrations of Bhumibol Adulyadej's Accession to the Throne 2006 (th. งานฉลองสิริราชสมบัติครบ ๖๐ ปี พ.ศ. ๒๕๔๙; RIT translit. Ngan Chalong Siriratchasombat Khrop Hok Sip Pi Pho So Song Phan Ha Roi Si Sip Kao) were the celebrations held throughout Thailand from the beginning to the end of 2006 in order to celebrate Bhumibol Adulyadej's the 60th year on the throne. Arranged by the Royal Thai Government with Pol Lt Col Thaksin Shinawatra as Prime Minister, and joined by global monarchs.

Contents

[edit] Official Emblem

Bhumibol Adulyadej selected one of the twelve emblems presented by the Fine Arts Department, Thailand's Ministry of Culture, to be the official emblem for the Celebrations. The selected emblem was designed by Somchai Supphalakamphaiphon, an artist to the department.

There are several symbols in the emblem. The centerpiece is an abbreviation of the King's name in golden yellow, the colour of Monday, his day of birth. The abbreviation is set on a blue background, which is the color of the monarchy. It is encircled with diamonds, which symbolise wise men, important authors, craftsmen, white elephant, graceful women, vigorous soldiers and public servants.

The Royal Regalia is circumscribed the throne consisting of a crown; on the sides are a sword and a yak's tail whisk; under the throne is a pair of slippers. These five objects are used in coronation ceremonies, and are the same as those used in the king's coronation in 1946.

The bottom of the emblem features a pink ribbon with the name of the Celebrations inscribed in gold. The two ends of the ribbon are held by the monkey god Hanuman, Rama's perfectest army in the India's Ramayana epic, and a garuda, the Hindu God Narayana's vehicle. The green and gold colors in the background represent the fertility of the land. [1]

[edit] Main Programmes

[edit] Royal Ceremonies

Bhumibol Adulyadej endorsed the royal programmes during the periods of June 2006 as follows:

Date Time Ceremony Place
Thursday, 8 June 17.00 hours The merit making royal ceremony in dedication to the royal ancestors Amarin Winitchai Throne Hall
Friday, 9 June 09.00—17.00 hours The letting of the public paying of homage to the royal ancestors Phra Thep Bidon Hall, Wat Phra Si Rattanasatsadaram
10.00 hours The homage paying royal ceremony in dedication to the royal ancestors Anantasamakhom Throne Hall
Bhumibol Adulyadej and Sirikit holding the grand audience Balcony of Anantasamakhom Throne Hall
Saturday, 10 June 17.00 hours The 60th Year on Throne Anniversary Royal Celebrations:
  • The establishment of ecclesiastical ranks
  • The religious ceremonies
  • The throne celebrating walking ceremony
 Amarin Winitchai Throne Hall
Monday, 12 June 16.00 hours Bhumibol Adulyadej and Sirikit, as well as members of the royal household, welcoming the visiting monarchs Anantasamakhom Throne Hall
18.30 hours The monarchs inspecting the Royal Projects Exhibition and the Royal Barge Procession The Royal Thai Navy's Auditorium, and Ratchanawikasapha (Royal Thai Navy Hall)
Tuesday, 13 June 19.30 hours Royal Banquet Borommaratchasathit Maholan Hall, Grand Palace

The entire royal ceremonies were nationwide broadcasted by The Television Pool of Thailand through every general television channels in accordance with the date and time as stated.

[edit] State Ceremonies

  • Lighting of Well-Wishing Candles Ceremony, Friday, 9 June 2006, 19.19 hours, Sanam Luang.
  • Feasting Assemblage arranged by the Government to offer the dinner to the monarchs, the Government House.

[edit] Visiting Monarchs

There exist 29 monarch-headed countries in the present, 25 accepted the invitation from the Royal Thai Government to join the Celebrations in Thailand: 13 countries participated the Celebrations by themselves, 12 sent their representatives. The two countries that could not join the Celebrations were Nepal, owing to the internal political unstability, and Saudi Arabia, owing to the royal health and its prevailing circumstances.


[edit] Commemorations

The wearing of royal-yellow T-shirts to celebrate the occasion is a voluntary joint expression of the Thai people (although in some organizations it has become mandatory), and as the main celebration period of June 9-13 approached, shirts bearing the special emblem for the celebration rapidly sold out. The Commerce Ministry ordered another 500,000 to meet demand. In the weeks that followed the celebration, many people still wore their yellow shirts.

Also popular are orange rubber wristbands, similar to the Livestrong wristbands, that say "We love the King."

Photographs of the ceremonies are also popular. The Royal Household Bureau has set up a photo lab specifically to fill orders for official images, and on Bangkok's streets there are vendors selling copies of the photos of the king and the visiting royals. [2] Also, newspapers such as the Bangkok Post and The Nation report brisk sales of commemorative publications.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Keenapan, Nattha (June 9, 2006). "A symbol of greatness," International Herald Tribune/ThaiDay (print edition)
  2. ^ The Nation "Royal Household Bureau to sell jubilee celebration pictures", June 20, 2006.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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