From Oct 21-28, the Miracle of Life Foundation, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and residents of Pak Klong Talat Community will host the "Flowers For Father" floral display along Chak Phet Road in Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok. The event is aimed at expressing their gratitude towards King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Six floral arches, designed by Niralai by Rain Forest, will be shown along a 400m stretch of the road from the statue of King Rama I to Phra Ratchawang Police Station.
Arch 1 titled "Thai People" is an 89m-long tunnel of flowers that looks like a moving cloth. Its tips are decorated with white flowers and gradually turned in to the three colours of the national flag.
Arch 2 titled "Falling Rain" is made of lotus flowers placed in different positions to resemble flowing water. It is inspired by a withered lotus flower given to King Bhumibol by Grandma Toom Chanthanit during his royal visit to Nakhon Phanom 62 years ago as well as the king's kindness that turned withered flowers to blossoming flowers in the hearts of Thais.
Arch 3 titled "Royal Footprints" is a floral arch in the shape of a mountain range in the North of Thailand. It is decorated with chrysanthemum and other temperate flowers as Thailand's economic products. It represents King Bhumibol's royal tasks that turned spoiled forests and opium plantations into temperate vegetable and flower gardens bringing jobs and income to hilltribe people.
Arch 4 titled "Love" is created from crown flowers and 77 daffodils in the shape of the map of Thailand. It represents the gratitude of Thai people in all 77 provinces towards King Bhumibol.
Arch 5 titled "Nine (King Rama IX)" is created from yellow marigolds in the shape of a curtain. If seen directly from the front of the arch, it looks like Thai number nine. The yellow colour stands for the prosperity of Thailand throughout the reign of King Rama IX.
Arch 6 titled "Montharop", a heavenly flower according to Buddhist belief, is in the shape of heaven's entrance decorated with white flowers representing celestial flowers, a mountain range and white elephants. Montharop flowers fall from heaven onto the Earth when extraordinary incidents occur.
Call the Miracle of Life Foundation at 02-537-0117/8.
Post-lent merit making
From Nov 18 to Nov 19, the "Chak Phra Len Pleng Thambun Takbat Klangnam" ceremony will be performed at Wat Pa Pruek in tambon Ban Laem, Bang Pla Ma district of Suphan Buri province.
The tradition is over a century old and held after Buddhist Lent each year. At dawn, local people wearing colourful clothes will sing traditional songs and paddle boats to bring food and desserts to give alms to monks. There will be a procession of boats carrying Buddha statues on the Tha Chin River for villagers to pay respects to.
Tourists are able to travel by boat to visit Wat Suan Hong, Wat Lan Kha, Wat Ban Sutra, Wat Noi, Wat Bang Yi Hon, Wat Kaeo Takhian Thong, Wat Chao Khao and Wat Suk Kasem on the same route taken by King Rama V and poet Sunthorn Phu.
Visit tatsuphan.net or contact the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Suphan Buri Office on 035-525-867.
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