BANGKOK, Oct 23 (TNA) – Thailand commemorated King
Chulalongkorn Memorial Day in ceremonies across the country on Wednesday.
On the public holiday marking the passing of King
Chulalongkorn The Great or King Rama V of the House of Chakri, on October 23,
1910, Thai people attended ceremonies to pay homage to the King.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan led Cabinet
ministers, members of parliament, chiefs of the armed forces and senior government
officials in an alms-giving ceremony in Bangkok.
It was followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the
Equestrian statue of King Chulalongkorn.
Similar activities were held across Thailand in remembrance
of one of Thailand’s most respected monarchs. In Chiang Mai, people gathered at the royal
monument inside the administrative center of the northern province.
In the northeastern province of Sakhon Nakhon, local people
joined a merit-making ceremony at a Buddhist temple in Mueang district.
Born on September 20, 1853 King Chulalongkorn The Great
ascended to the throne in 1868 at the age of 15.
The King guided Thailand, or Siam at the time, through a
period of modernization which saw, among others, abolishment of slavery. The monarch is widely regarded as the
“Father of Modern Thailand” for introducing modern educational system and
infrastructures.
King Rama V is also known for his diplomatic skills to
prevent Siam from colonialism during the rise of European imperialism in
Southeast Asia.(TNA)
