Buddhist chanting and auspicious religious ceremonies, including merit making by offering alms to monks, are taking place all across the island to mark the esteemed occasion.
At 7am this morning at the Mahisorn Phakdi Auditorium at Phuket Provincial Hall, Phuket Vice Governor Sattha Thongkham presided over such an official ceremony, where he was joined by Busadee Suwannarat, President of the Phuket Red Cross Society/President of the Phuket Provincial Housewives Association and wife of Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat.
Also present were Phuket Vice Governors Major General Adul Chuthong and Narasak Suksomboon, in addition to selected heads of government agencies and various private sector entities and members of the public who all joined the religious chanting ceremony of the five auspicious religions, including the Buddhist prayer ceremony, the oath-taking ceremony to be a good civil servant and the alms-giving ceremony to offer royal merit.
On arriving at the auditorium, Mr Sattha lit incense and candles to worship the Triple Gem, before offering incense and candles in front of the portrait of His Majesty the King and leading the royal hymn to offer auspicious blessings.
The ceremonies of the five auspicious religions then began, consisting of Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Brahmanism-Hinduism and Sikhism.
Once the oath-taking ceremony was completed, Mr Sattha led the participants in making merit by offering alms to 101 monks and novices in front of Phuket Provincial Hall.