[Article] Kingdom of Thailand celebrates Coronation's Day (Wan Chatramongkhol) 5th May 2011 Cr: arts.kmutnb.ac.th
Thursday , May 5 marks the 61th anniversary of the Coronation of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great. The day is celebrated as a national holiday, and as such all government offices and commercial banks will close for the day.
Whist being crowned King of Thailand, the 9th in the Chakri Dynasty (Rama IX), His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great took a sacred oath to rule with Righteousness, for the Benefit and Happiness of the Thai people, which He has done magnificently, garnering tremendous respect from His people.
Now, HM King Bhumibol Adulyadejthe Great is the longest reigning monarch in the world.
After King Mongkut (Rama IV) ascended the throne and performed the traditional ceremony on 6 April 1851, he issued an edict saying that the coronation of a monarch was regarded as an auspcious occasion in all countires ruled by a sovereign and was joyfully celebrated by the people of the whole country. However, this had never been done in Siam. The king, therefore, ordered that his coronation be celebrated by inviting Buddhist monks to the Grand Palace to chant sutras on the 13th day of the 6th moon and again to be entertained at a feast the next day. This was the first time the enthronement of a Thai king was celebrated.
In the present reign, Coronation Day is observed by a series of religious rites lasting for three days. On the first day, the 3rd of May, there is a Buddhist ceremony at Amarindra Vinichai Hall in the Grand Palace dedicated to the ancestors of the Chakri House, in which scriptures are chanted and a sermon is delivered by a high monk. On the second day, the ceremony consists of two parts - a Brahmanic one and a Buddhist one. The third day is Coronation Day. A feast is given to Buddhist monks and the king is dressed in full regalia. At noon, the Royal Thai Army and the Royal Thai Navy each fire a salute of 21 guns. Later this day decorations are bestowed on officials and civilians who have done meritorious services to the state and society.
The elaborate coronation ceremony of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great included all the ancient rituals required for assuming the full title and the nine-tiered umbrella. HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej then bestowed the honor posthumously on His brother HM King Ananda Mahidol. HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s benevolent act raised HM King Ananda Mahidol’s regal status from seven to a nine-tiered umbrella. All Kings to follow not undergoing the coronation ceremony would be unable to assume the term “Phrabat” in front of the King’s title of “Somdej Phrachaoyuhua”, and more significantly, the symbol of the nine-tiered umbrella would also not be permissible or officially recognized.
Many rooms in the Royal Palace are opened for public viewing on Coronation Day. Auspicious ceremonies are performed and displays depicting Royal achievements are exhibited to reconfirm the King’s stature.
The Songkran festival (Thai: สงกรานต์, from Sanskrit saṃkrānti,"astrological passage") is celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year's Day from 13 to 15 April. It coincides with the New Year of many calendars of South and Southeast Asia.
Songkran is a Thai traditional New Year which starts on April 13 every year and lasts for 3 days. Songkran festival on April 13 is Maha Songkran Day or the day to mark the end of the old year, April 14 is Wan Nao which is the day after and April 15 is Wan Thaloeng Sok which the New Year begins.
Songkran means “movement” or “changing” since according to Thai astrology, the sun will move into a new sign of the Zodiac on this day. Songkran is also called the “Water Festival”. Water is believed to flow and wash away all bad omens during this time. Thus, it is a time for cleaning; houses, villages, temples and spirit houses.
In the Thai tradition, the New Year begins early in the morning when faithful Thai Buddhists give alms to Buddhist monks. After that, they release caged animals, especially birds and fish. Elders and parents will be visited and respected by their children and grandchildren. The young pour scented water over their elder’s hands, they in return, wish them good health, happiness and prosperity. This tradition of paying respect, is called “Rod Nam Dam Hua”. April 14 is called “Family Day”.
In the afternoon, Thai Buddhists sprinkle scented water on Buddha images. After that, they sprinkle perfumed water on, or throw clean, cold water over each other. Songkran is observed with excitement in the North, especially in the northern province of Chiang Mai.
A lot of people from around the country will head up north to participate in the festivals organised there. A Miss Songkran Pageant will be held and a long and beautiful parade will be organised.
In Bangkok, the Buddha image "Buddhasihing" is brought out from the National Museum for people to sprinkle lustral water at Sanam Luang, opposite the Grand Palace. Anyone who goes out on the street is likely to get a thorough soaking. People believe that water will wash away bad luck, and splashing water over friends or anyone will give them a New Year blessing.
Hanami Festival or Cherry Blossoms Festival in Japan :
"Sakura or Cherry Blossoms" is the Japan National Flower, Hanami (花見, Hanami? literally "flower viewing") is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers, especially cherry blossoms (桜 or 櫻 sakura). The practice of Hanami is more than a thousand years old, and is still very popular in Japan today. It takes place in the Spring, contrary to the custom of Momijigari (紅葉狩り), which is celebrated in the Autumn.
The blossoms only last for a week or two, usually from March to April, and they are followed by the media and waited for by most of the Japanese people. Full bloom (満開 mankai) usually comes about one week after the opening of the first blossoms (開花 kaika).[1] Another week later, the blooming peak is over and the blossoms are falling from the trees.
A more ancient form of hanami also exists in Japan, which is enjoying the plum blossoms (梅 ume) instead. This kind of hanami is popular among older people, because they are more calm than the sakura parties, which usually involve younger people and can sometimes be very crowded and noisy.
History of "Hanami Festival" or "Cherry Blossoms Festival" in Japan :
The practice of hanami is many centuries old. The custom is said to have started during the Nara Period (710–794) when it was ume blossoms that people admired in the beginning. But by the Heian Period (794–1185), sakura came to attract more attention and hanami was synonymous with sakura.[3] From then on, in tanka and haiku, "flowers" meant "sakura."
Hanami was first used as a term analogous to cherry blossom viewing in the Heian era novel Tale of Genji. Whilst a wisteria viewing party was also described, from this point on the terms "hanami" and "flower party" were only used to describe cherry blossom viewing.
Sakura originally was used to divine that year's harvest as well as announce the rice-planting season. People believed in kami inside the trees and made offerings. Afterwards, they partook of the offering with sake.
Emperor Saga of the Heian Period adopted this practice, and held flower-viewing parties with sake and feasts underneath the blossoming boughs of sakura trees in the Imperial Court in Kyoto. Poems would be written praising the delicate flowers, which were seen as a metaphor for life itself, luminous and beautiful yet fleeting and ephemeral. This was said to be the origin of hanami in Japan.
The custom was originally limited to the elite of the Imperial Court, but soon spread to samurai society and, by the Edo period, to the common people as well. Tokugawa Yoshimune planted areas of cherry blossom trees to encourage this. Under the sakura trees, people had lunch and drank sake in cheerful feasts.
Today, the Japanese people continue the tradition of hanami, gathering in great numbers wherever the flowering trees are found. Thousands of people fill the parks to hold feasts under the flowering trees, and sometimes these parties go on until late at night.
In more than half of Japan, the cherry blossoming period coincides with the beginning of the scholastic and fiscal years, and so welcoming parties are often opened with hanami. The Japanese people continue the tradition of hanami by taking part in the processional walks through the parks. This is a form of retreat for contemplating and renewing their spirits. The teasing proverb dumplings rather than flowers (花より団子, hana yori dango?) hints at the real priorities for most cherry blossom viewers, meaning that people are more interested in the food and drinks accompanying a hanami party than actually viewing the flowers themselves.(A punning variation, Boys Over Flowers (花より男子, Hana Yori Dango?), is the title of a manga and anime series).
Dead bodies are buried under the cherry trees! is a popular saying about hanami, after the opening sentence of the 1925 short story "Under the Cherry Trees" by Motojirō Kajii.
Sakurairo Maukoro - Mika Nakashima
桜色舞うころ, 私はひとり 押さえきれぬ胸に 立ち尽くしてた
若葉色 萌ゆれば 想いあふれて すべてを見失い あなたへ流れた
めぐる木々たちだけが ふたりを見ていたの ひとどころにはとどまれないと そっとおしえながら
枯葉色 染めてく あなたのとなり 移るいゆく日々が 愛へと変るの
どうか木々たちだけは この想いを守って もう一度だけふたりの上で そっと葉を揺らして
やがて季節はふたりを どこへ運んでゆくの ただひとつだけ 確かな今を そっと抱きしめていた
雪化粧 まどえは 想いはぐれて 足跡も消してく 音無きいたずら
どうか木々たちだけは この想いを守って 「永遠」の中ふたりとどめて ここに 生き続けて
めぐる木々たちだけが ふたりを見ていたの ひとどころにはとどまれないと そっとおしえながら
桜色舞うころ, 私はひとり あなたへの想いを かみしめたまま
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~ Lyrics Romanize ~
Sakurairo maukoro Watashi wa hitori Osaekirenu mune ni Tachitsukushiteta