It's time to celebrate the capital city's 236th anniversary, set to start tomorrow.
The five-day celebration, from Saturday until Wednesday, is held to honour King Rama I or Phra Phutthayotfa Chulalok the Great, the first king of the Chakri Dynasty.
The celebration will be comprised of various ceremonies, starting from merit-making at 8.30am at Bangkok City Hall with 237 monks participating. The sacrificial ceremony will be held at the Bangkok City Pillar Shrine. Merit-making in five religious ceremonies will be held at the National Theatre at 10am.
Then at 6.15pm, a colourful parade will pack the Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue, starting from the Royal Maha Jessada Bodin Pavilion. The 11 floats in the parade will feature a history of Ratanakosin and Bangkok, as well as major events during the reigns of King Rama I to King Rama X.
The parade will proceed on Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue to Sanam Luang and the National Theatre. People can participate, and traditional Thai attire is recommended.
The National Theatre also will feature best performances from the era of Rattanakosin and neighbouring countries, such as khon, Chinese opera and a retro event that features Thailand's heritage in the atmosphere of yesteryear. There will be a marketplace providing food from the old days and photo opportunities.
The Bangkok National Museum will hold a retro fair that features traditional Thai performances, including a puppet show, folk performances from different countries, a tour of the Wang Na Palace and a night visit to the National Museum.
Santi Chai Prakarn Park will showcase Bangkok's charm. With tourist guides, fairgoers can explore Bang Lamphoo and its shops, traditional performances, local cuisine and souvenirs.
Bangkok City Hall will feature Pracharat Market, which impresses shoppers with produce from all parts of Thailand, as well as local performances, traditional ceremonies and concerts by national artists. The traditional market takes place from 6pm onward.
There will be different activities to enjoy around Rattanakosin Island, such as exhibitions and folk performances at the Ratchadamnoen Contemporary Art Gallery, as well as free admission to museums, galleries, beautiful palaces and important temples.
From Tuesday to Friday, the Scala Theatre will showcase the 10 best films during the reign of King Rama IX, as well as a film exhibition and photo contest.
For more information, call 1765 or visit www.m-culture.go.th.
