Thais across the country showed their respect to His Majesty King Bhumibol the Great on Sunday by making merit for their beloved monarch, who passed away three years ago and left behind his priceless legacy to the Kingdom.
In Bangkok, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his wife, Naraporn, led all cabinet ministers in laying a wreath in front of a portrait of the late King at Sanam Luang and offered alms to monks. Chiefs of the judges, Parliament, armed forces and all institutions, together with their senior officials, also took part in the event to demonstrate their gratitude to King Bhumibol.
People wearing yellow, the colour of the late King, thronged Siriraj Hospital for a religious ceremony and observed an 89-second silence in front of his portrait.
King Bhumibol died peacefully at 3.52pm on Oct 13, 2016 at the hospital after being treated there since Oct 3, 2014. He was 89.
The late King demonstrated doing good deeds for the Kingdom to the entire country and never stopped working for the benefits of all Thais, Prasit Watanapa, dean of the Medicine Faculty of Siriraj Hospital, said.
King Bhumibol initiated numerous royal projects and the self-sufficiency philosphy to help people to have better lives.
"I am determined to follow in his footsteps by doing good things," Ploynuan Eamkarn, who attended the ceremony at the hospital, told Thai PBS.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his wife, Naraporn, lead a religious ceremony for late King Bhumibol the Great at Sanam Luang on Sunday. (Government House photo)
In other provinces, governors led officials and residents in holding religious ceremonies for the late King by placing wreaths in front of his portrait and then offering alms to monks. In Nakhon Si Thammarat, people flocked to Wat Phra Sri Rattanamahathat, a landmark and the most important temple in the country, for the alms-offering ceremony.
People will gather on Sunday evening to light candles at Siriraj, at Sanam Luang and in other provinces to show their respect to King Bhumibol.
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