Thailand honours world's longest ruling monarch

Bangkok, June 9 (UNI) Tens of thousands of Thais sporting the royal yellow colour and waving yellow flags cheered and wept with joy as the country's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej made a rare palace balcony appearance this morning to mark his 60 years on the throne.

An estimated half a million people spilled across the Royal Plaza and the stately avenue leading to the Italian marble throne palace in Bangkok to greet the King, the ninth ruler from his two century-old Chakri dynasty and the world's longest ruling monarch.

The caretaker Thai Cabinet, members of royalty from across the world, foreign envoys in Bangkok and leaders of all religious faiths in Thailand watched as the King was honoured in a ceremony of traditional grandeur reflecting ancient Indian religious and cultural influences on Southeast Asia.

Thousands had waited overnight in the royal plaza to catch a glimpse of the much-loved king who has spent most of his reign travelling and working among his country's majority rural people.

Thais also revere King Bhumibol because he has been a key political stabilising force in the country which has seen several military seizures of power, brutal crackdowns on popular protests and several changes of constitution during his reign.

The ceremony at the Ananta Samakhon Throne Hall began with prayers and rituals by Buddhist and Brahmin priests and the recitation of a lengthy traditional royal prayer by the chief royal Brahmin priest.

It attracted global attention with some 2,000 foreign mediapersons here to cover the five-day long 60th royal anniversary celebrations that end on June 13.

Monarchs and royal household members from 25 countries are taking part in the celebrations. These include Japan's emperor Akihito, the kings of Bahrain, Cambodia, Jordan, Lesotho, Swaziland and Sweden, the sultan of Brunei and the sheikhs of Kuwait and Qatar.

King Bhumibol, also known as King Rama IX, ascended the throne on June 9, 1946 at the age of 18 after the death of his brother who was then King Rama VIII.

UNI XC LR BST1508