HIS MAJESTY KING Maha Vajiralongkorn will preside over a royal merit-making ceremony at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha to commemorate the passing of his father, HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej, on the occasion of the late King’s birthday today.

Thai people across the country will also use the opportunity to commemorate the late King who passed away in October at the age of 89.

At the royal ceremony, King Maha Vajiralongkorn will also promote and appoint 159 senior Buddhist monks and grant money to senior courtiers, according to the Bureau of Royal Household. Both rituals have been traditionally carried out on every birthday of King Bhumibol.

A mass merit-making ceremony for the late monarch will be held on Bhumibol Bridge I, which links Bangkok with Samut Prakan, in tribute to the late King who initiated the bridge project in 1995 to alleviate traffic congestion in industrial areas. The ceremony will be hosted by the Samut Prakan local administration and the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Samut Prakan Governor Chatchai Uthaipan said the morning event would be presided over by Deputy Prime Minister General Tanasak Patimapragorn, who at 6.19am will lead an 89-second moment of condolence for the late King. He then will join participants in singing the royally composed song “The Impossible Dream” and the Royal Anthem before making an offering to 999 monks.

All participants then will be welcome to write vows on postcards to commit good deeds in tribute to the late King’s virtue. The postcards will be blessed in a New Year’s prayer ceremony and returned to writers as lucky objects.

The first 50,000 participants will receive No 9-shaped token brooches. As many as 19,999 collections of blessed soil from sacred temples nationwide will also be given away to acknowledge World Soil Day, established by the United Nations in honour of the late King’s dedication to soil development.

According to the Department of Rural Roads, Bhumibol bridges I and II and the Kanchanaphisek Expressway at the Pu Chao Saming Phrai Road section will be closed between midnight and 11am for the ceremony. There will be parking and shuttle buses will be used to take people to the ceremony.

More information on transportation for the event can be obtained by calling 1672 or 1543 or visiting http://5december.tourismthailand.org.

Meanwhile, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the National Office of the Buddhism (ONAB) will host a merit-making ceremony this morning at Khon Muang Plaza in front of Bangkok City Hall. It will be joined by 189 Buddhist monks and members of the public.

According to PM’s Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana, who is overseeing the ONAB, activities will be carried out all day at the Plaza. There will be a live jazz performance of royal songs played by the late King’s Au Saw Friday Band and a candle ceremony at 6pm in memorial to the late, beloved monarch.

The activities have been organised by governmental agencies including the Culture Ministry and the situation-monitoring command centre.

In Prachuap Khiri Khan province where the late King’s Klai Kangwon Palace is situated, people are welcome to write a condolence to the late monarch.

The initiative started yesterday and ends on January 4. They are being given photos of the royal chanting ceremony at the late King’s passing inside Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall.