Government to organise New Year prayer session

BANGKOK, Dec 17 (TNA) -- The Government is set to organise a prayer session on New Year's eve at every Buddhist temple in Thailand and countries in ASEAN. For this year the Chinese Shiaolin Temple would also be joining in with the activity to organise a pryaer session to usher in the New Year, while at 12.09 am, a candle lighting ceremony would be held across Thailand. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration or BMA, meanwhile, would be giving the a New Year present to the public by providing free services on BTS and MRT trains, as well as for boat services at the Klong Pasri Charoen canal starting at noon on December 31, 2016 through to midday of January 1, 2017. The prayer session would be held across temples nationwide, as well as Sanam Luang ground, where shopping malls are also encouraged to join in with the activity, in which two main sessions would take place, including a prayer in remembrance of His late Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej at 9 pm, followed by a an 89-second moment of silence and a 7-verse prayer. At 11.45 pm, a prayer session would be held to usher in the New Year and to bless the country and its people at all Thai temples across the nation and in ASEAN. At 12.09 am, a candle lighting ceremony would also be held. The government is encouraging the general public to participate in the activity for good luck and fortune ahead of the coming New Year. (TNA)