Schools and government agencies will hold activities such as poetry, singing and art contests, providing ample opportunity for the nation’s subjects to show their passion and appreciation for not only their own mothers, but the beloved Mother of the Nation.
Following is a list of activities planned in Phuket to mark the auspicious occasion.
Phuket Province
The Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (OrBorJor) will host activities on Monday, August 10 at The Metropole Hotel in Phuket Town.
The itinerary includes the traditional flower offering ceremony known as “Wang Paan Poom Ngoen Poom Thong” (วางพานพุ่มเงิน-พุ่มทอง), and there will be mass singing of HM The Queen’s official anthem, “Pleng Sadudee Maharacha” (เพลงสดุดีมหาราชา).
Lady groups representing each of the island’s districts will put on some special performances, with the expected audience for the event to be up to 1,200 attendees.
Moreover, there will be special talks about “Modern Mother’s Good Health” from medical specialists from OrBorJor Phuket Hospital.
The “Good Mum of Phuket 2015” pageant finalist award presentation will also be held. For more information, please contact the Phuket OrBorJor on 076-211877, 076-354204
Bike for Mom
The nationwide “Bike for Mom” event is being held on August 16. A number of Phuketians have already signed up to participate in the event and those participating were given the opportunity to practice with a pre-event practice run on August 2.
The event will kick off at 3pm from Phuket Provincial Hall, with the ride commencing from Provincial Hall and past the Phuket Prison, Satree Phuket intersection, Phuket District Office, Surakul Stadium, Darasamuth intersection, Ketho junction, Kathu District Office, and will end at Baan Kathu 2 School where all participants will plant trees to honour HM The Queen.
The second part will run from the school and past Kathu Municipality to Ketho junction. Cyclists will then head back towards the Darasamuth Intersection and then turn right onto Chao Fa West Rd, past the Naka shrine and Suan Luang Rama 9 Park, past the Dowroong Intersection and onto the Tha Klang junction.
After turning right at the Suan Luang Rama 9 junction, it will then proceed past the Phuket government centre and the Phuket Polytechnic College onto Klong Bang Yai Rd and will end at the Sapan Hin Sports Centre. The total distance covered will be 26 kilometres.
To register to take part in the August 16 event please visit www.bikeformom2015.com
Phuket City
In addition to the above activities, the Phuket City Municipality will hold a special tree planting activity on Saturday, August 15, which will feature the planting of 300 Dipterocarpus alatus (in Thai, Yang Na ยางนา) trees at Suan Luang Rama 9 Park, starting from 9am and expected to last about half an hour.
Patong
There will not be a parade organised this year like usual, but a stage will be set up at Loma Park on Wednesday, August 12, and feature the typical student shows and mother’s day competitions and presentations, with traditional flower and candle lighting ceremonies to commence 5pm and last until about 7pm. All residents and tourists are invited to join in the ceremonies.
Chalong
Chalong Municipality is planning two activities this year, both to take place on Tuesday, August 11. The first will be a traditional Buddhist alms offering to 83 monks in front of Ladthiwanaram Temple (วัดใต้), starting from about 6.30-7am and lasting for up to two hours. In the evening, starting from about 5pm there will be flower and candle homage ceremonies and staged presentations for 20 Outstanding Mums from 10 villages in Chalong. For more information, call 076-383775-7.
Cherng Talay
On Sunday, August 9, there will be a mini-marathon, with registration to begin from 3-4am. At 5.30am there will be a small ceremony in honour of HM The Queen, and the mini-marathon is expected to last until 9am. For more information, call 076-324440
Of course there will be other activities staged in villages, temples and at schools across the island.