BANGKOK, Thailand – Their Majesties King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida presided over the royal candlelight procession in observance of Visakha Bucha Day B.E. 2568 at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram) within the Grand Palace, May 11. The ceremony, held in the evening, honored the three significant events in the life of the Lord Buddha—his birth, enlightenment, and passing—each of which, according to Buddhist tradition, took place on the full moon day of the sixth lunar month.
At 5:26 p.m., Their Majesties arrived at the ordination hall where the King lit a ceremonial candle and incense to pay homage to the sacred images enshrined within. He placed floral offerings and lit ritual candles before key Buddha images, including the Emerald Buddha and the revered statues of past monarchs. Her Majesty the Queen followed in lighting incense and offering her respects at designated altars.
His Majesty then granted an audience to Air Chief Marshal Phakdee Saengchuto, Acting Director of the Royal Ceremonies Bureau, who presented a ceremonial candle. The King lit the candle from an electric lantern and passed it on to be offered to the abbot for use in lighting candles across six royal temples, including the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Bowonniwet, Wat Ratchabophit, Wat Ratchapradit, Wat Benchamabophit in Bangkok, and Wat Niwet Thammaprawat in Ayutthaya. Another candle was then lit by the King and prepared for use in the ritual candlelight procession.
Their Majesties participated in the traditional wian thian ritual, circumambulating the ordination hall three times in a clockwise direction while holding a lit candle in reverence of the Triple Gem—Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha. Upon completing the procession, the King scattered jasmine petals at the stone pulpit and lit candles beside the royal sermon text, which was respectfully placed on the preaching stand.
Phra Ratchayan Vajrachinophat led the chanting of precepts and delivered a sermon titled “The Full Moon of Visakha.” The ceremony concluded with Their Majesties pouring ceremonial water as an act of merit-making, presenting robes and offerings to four monks who chanted blessings. Before departing, Their Majesties paid final respects at the altar and received gestures of homage from attending members of the royal family and senior officials.
The King and Queen then exited the ordination hall and returned by royal motorcade, concluding a deeply symbolic and spiritual evening that underscored the enduring significance of Visakha Bucha Day in the Buddhist calendar.
