A parade at the ceremony of the King's 88th birthday (Photo: AFP)Bangkok (VNA) – Millions of Thai people dressed yellow and streamed down the streets nationwide on December 5 to celebrate the 88th birth anniversary of their King, Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Streets, offices, stores and private houses across Thailand were decorated with the national flag, the royal flags, and the photos of the King and Queen to mark the King’s birthday, which is also the country’s National Day.
The same day, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha chaired a ceremony at Sanam Luang Square in Bangkok, offering rice to Buddhist monks to pray for the monarch’s health and the country’s development.
Similar ceremonies were also held nationwide to express respect and loyalty to the monarchy.
The Thai royal palaces were open throughout December 5 to welcome people’s writing of their birthday messages to the King.
Bhumibol Adulyadej was crowded King of Thailand in 1946 and is the longest-reigning monarch in the world at present.
His birthday is considered as a national festival on which people are off from their work and plentiful celebratory activities are organised.-VNA
