"Candlelight of Siam" welcomes people from all walks of life

BANGKOK, December 26 (TNA) - The Thai government will organise a grand New Year countdown, dubbed the "Candlelight of Siam", at Sanam Luang ceremonial ground in Bangkok, in which people from all walks of life are welcome to participate in the mass prayers event to pay tribute to late His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Deputy Prime Minister General Tanasak Patimapragorn told a press conference of the grand event in the city on Monday, saying that the "Candlelight of Siam" will be jointly organised by the Ministries of Culture, Tourism and Sports and Interior, as well as the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). The deputy premier stated that at 7pm on December 31, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will distribute a total of 100,000 candle holders to participants at eight locations around Sanam Luang and at 9pm all participants will hold an 89-second moment of silence in remembrance of the late and beloved Thai monarch, According to the deputy prime minister, the prayers session will begin at 11:45pm and will continue until midnight, during which the event's chair will hit the cong nine times and Buddhist monks will chant a good luck prayer for the public. Everyone will then join in a mass singing of the "Blessing for the New Year" song composed by late His Majesty the King, followed by the Royal Anthem in front of the royal portrait of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun and at 0:09am, the candles will be lit and another prayers session marking the start New Year to honour all late Thai Kings and to extend best wishes and luck to the present King and the Thai people. At 7am on January 1, an alms offering ceremony will be organised to 189 Buddhist monks at the plaza in front of the BMA head office to welcome the New Year 2017. Culture Minister Veera Rojpojanarat said activities to include other religions will also be held to encourage Thais with other religious beliefs to join in the grand New Year welcoming event. Besides, New Year prayers sessions with ASEAN neighbouring countries will be held in 15 Thai border provinces and at all 504 Thai temples around the world. Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkura revealed that the Thai government has also received cooperation from the private sector, including shopping malls, to co-organise the Candlelight event at the same time with Sanam Luang, from the Pathumwan Intersection to the Prompong Intersection, to join the broadcast of the memorable New Year footage in Thailand to the rest of the world. Meanwhile, the Marine Department, under the Ministry of Transport, has implemented stricter water safety measures during the ongoing New Year Festival, as public demand for boat travels normally soar during the New Year festivity. (TNA)