Gov. Khomsan Ekachai led the Jan. 17 event at Chalerm Phrakiat Pavilion attended by residents, bureaucrats, soldiers, police and local residents. The date was selected by the national government in October as an annual celebration of the king, as it marks the day in 1833 when a stone inscription supposedly written by the king detailing his triumphs was found by King Mongkut before he ascended to the throne.
Chonburi Gov. Khomsan Ekachai lights candles and incense in front of a portrait of King Ramkhamhaeng to celebrate the first-ever King Ramkhamhaeng Day ceremony recalling the fabled ruler’s contributions to Thai history.
Ramkhamhaeng was the third king of the Phra Ruang dynasty, ruling the Sukhothai Kingdom (a forerunner of the modern kingdom of Thailand) from 1278–1298, during its most prosperous era. He is credited with the creation of the Thai alphabet and the firm establishment of Theravada Buddhism as the state religion of the kingdom.
He has come to symbolize for Thais the “benevolent monarchy” and is credited not only with creating the country’s alphabet, but building the region’s largest empire of the time.
