Millions of people joined candle-light ceremonies across the country on Thursday night to mark His Majesty the King’s 86th birthday.
From Bangkok, the ceremony at Sanum Luang was broadcast live on national television while each province held ceremonies at provincial halls in a concurrent event at 7.30pm.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra led the ceremony to praise the King’s kindness to his subjects vowed to have unity and wished His Majesty a happy birthday.
After the ceremony, there was also a set of 38 fireworks displays at Sanam Luang.
Anti-government demonstrators held their own ceremonies at their main protest sites at Democracy Monument on Ratchadamnoen Avenue and the government office complex on Chang Wattana Road where thousands of protesters wore yellow shirts as they joined the celebration.
At Lan Kon Muang in front of City Hall, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration organised an event to form human letters into “Song Phra Charoen”, which means “Long Live the King”. The event was attended by its 3,700 officials.