- 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 
ThailandArranger The Royal Thai Government Occasion Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of HM The King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Sixtieth Anniversary Celebrations of HM The King 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 60th year on the throne. The celebrations were arranged by the Royal Thai Government with Thaksin Shinawatra as Prime Minister, and joined by global monarchs.
Contents
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]
Main Programmes
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 HM The King Bhumibol Adulyadej and HM The Queen 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 HM The King Bhumibol Adulyadej and HM The Queen 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.
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.
- Trooping the Colour, Thanon Ratchadamnoen.
Visiting monarchs
There exist 44 monarch-headed countries in the present but only 29 monarchs in total because Elizabeth II is considered the constitutional monarch of 16 states of Commonwealth realms. Of all 29 monarchs, 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 instability, and Saudi Arabia, owing to the royal health and its prevailing circumstances.
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.
See also
References
- ^ Keenapan, Nattha (June 9, 2006). "A symbol of greatness," International Herald Tribune/ThaiDay (print edition)
- ^ The Nation "Royal Household Bureau to sell jubilee celebration pictures", June 20, 2006.
External links
- The Sixtieth Anniversary Celebrations of His Majesty's Accession to the Throne – official website for Diamond Jubilee
- Palaces of the King – Galleries of images by Royal Household photographers
- A Visionary Monarch – provides a lot of insights on his visions and contributions to the country.
Categories:- Chakri Dynasty
- 2006 in Thailand
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