JEDDAH - The world was riveted by the three-day coronation ceremony of Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Rama X, which ended on Monday May 6. Hundreds of thousands gathered in Bangkok and millions more across the world watched the elaborate coronation rituals which have not been seen since the last coronation 69 years ago and which culminated with a procession through the streets of the capital city.

The ceremony is an ancient traditional practice performed to complete the procedure of the enthronement of each king of Thailand, in order to ensure legitimacy and formally complete the ascension to the throne.

On Saturday May 4 as this historic event unfolded in their country, members of the Thai community in Saudi Arabia celebrated by joining together to make an effort to contribute to the local community.

In Jeddah more than 200 Thais all wearing yellow, the color associated with their king, arrived by chartered coaches at the Corniche near the Hilton hotel around 7:30 am. They were greeted by Thai Consul General Soradjak Puranasamriddhi and his wife Paveena Puranasamriddhi and officials of the Thai Consulate General in Jeddah. Deputy Consul General Abdulrahim Datumada assisted in officiating the event.

After a speech by the Consul General and the presentation of a gift of thanks to representatives of Jeddah Municipality, the group planted bougainvillea bushes and other flowers and shrubs along a 100-meter stretch of the Corniche road.

In Riyadh, on April 29, Sathana Kashemsanta Na Ayudhya, Chargé d’Affaires of the Royal Thai Embassy called on Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, Supervisor General of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), and made a token contribution for humanitarian assistance on behalf of the Kingdom of Thailand to the KSrelief.

The Chargé d’Affaires, along with a number of Thai people, also went to donate blood at the Blood Bank of King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center on May 2. Anan Pikultipsakorn, Minister Counselor, Royal Thai Embassy in Riyadh, assisted the Chargé d’Affaires in officiating events in Riyadh.

On Monday May 6, in both Jeddah and Riyadh, members of the Thai community gathered to watch as Thailand’s king make his first public speech from a balcony of the Grand Palace in Bangkok and received the good wishes of tens of thousands of his subjects.

Regarding events in Jeddah and Riyadh, Consul General Soradjak told Saudi Gazette that on Saturday May 4, Thai people around the world engaged in activities for the benefit of the communities in which they lived. He said: “Thai people around the world gather in honor of his majesty the king and to volunteer to do things for the public in every country where Thai people reside.”

He added: “Here in Jeddah we arranged for a function to plant flowering shrubs on the Jeddah waterfront as a benefit to the general public of the city. Also in some other places like our embassy in Riyadh, Thai people have gathered to donate blood for local clinics and hospitals.”

Consul General Soradjak explained that in other countries, there were activities like cleaning public places and visiting orphanages and in general doing things to help people.

The Consul General said that Haj preparations were well underway. He said: “This year there will be some 8,000 Thai pilgrims who will come to perform Haj. The Thai government has assigned the Haj Committee at the Ministry of Interior to be responsible for supervising the wellbeing of Haj pilgrims.”

He added that Thailand, which for 20 years has been an observing member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), every year arranges for the accommodation and pilgrimage of Thai Muslims to Saudi Arabia. - SG