PHUKET MARKS MOTHER’S DAY
Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat on Monday (Aug 12) presided over the first of a series of events held across the island, and across the country, to honour Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother, on the occasion of her 92nd birthday, celebrated throughout the country as Mother’s Day, a national public holiday.
The ceremony, held at the Mahisorn Phakdee Auditorium at the Phuket Provincial Government Center, home of Phuket Provincial Hall, started at 7:30am.
The day began with a merit-making ceremony, where alms were offered in tribute to the Queen Mother, as part of a Buddhist ritual to express gratitude for Her Majesty’s contributions to the Thai people.
Phra Udom Wachiramongkol, the Provincial Abbot of Phuket and the abbot of Wat Mongkol Nimit, led the monastic side of the ceremony.
Phuket Governor Sophon presided over the lay party, alongside his wife, Mrs Busadee, President of the Red Cross Chapter of Phuket Province.
Many high-ranking officials, including Vice Governors Sattha Thongkham, Adul
Chuthong and Norasak Suksomboon, as well as representatives from various sectors, joined in the event.
The ceremony included a Buddhist chanting session led by 10 monks, followed by the lighting of incense and candles to honour the ‘Triple Gem’ of Buddhism
Dharma, Sangha).
Participants also paid respects to a portrait of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, while officials offered robes and Thai Dharma accessories to the monks. In the afternoon, volunteer activities were held to further honour Her Majesty, including cleaning and tree planting at Baan Para School in Pa Khlok.
The day’s events concluded with an evening ceremony at the Mahisorn Phakdee Auditorium. The ceremony included the offering of royal tributes, laying of ‘parnphum’, and a candle-lighting ritual to express well wishes for Her Majesty.
The public was invited to participate in the events, allowing people from all walks of life to come together and show their loyalty and appreciation for Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, said an official report of the ceremony.