In 1976, Mother’s Day was moved to August 12 to commemorate the birthday of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Mother of all Thai people. A few weeks before The Queen’s birthday, preparations start in full swing.
For this occasion, people all around the country raise national flags and houses are decorated with portraits of Her Majesty The Queen. This is their way of expressing their loyalty and to honour her. Thai people unanimously commemorate this day because of The Queen’s benevolence towards needy and poor in the nation. The Queen has captured the hearts of Thai people through her devotion toward the welfare and well-being of her people.
In the morning, alms-giving ceremonies will be held, followed by country-wide candle-lighting ceremonies and fireworks displays.
Phuket will host a range of events for visitors and residents to enjoy in the days leading up to, and on, August 12.
August 9-10
• CHERNG TALAY: Cherng Talay OrBorTor will provide a mobile clinic offering health checks, including cholesterol, blood glucose, triglycerides level tests, and prostate cancer exams, for residents from 8am-11am.
August 11
• CHALONG: Festivities at Wat Chaitharam (Wat Chalong) from 7am. Residents can give alms to monks, followed by the opening ceremony and many performances by local students and the senior citizens’ club. At 8pm there will be a candlelight ceremony to honour HM The Queen.
• KAMALA: Mother’s Day activities at the Kamala Early Childhood Development Centre from 9am to noon with all kinds of activities for children.
August 12
• CAPE PANWA: At Phuket Aquarium, Mother’s Day festivities will be held from 9am-4pm. The schedule for the event as follows:
9am – Registration
10am – Beach-cleaning activities
1pm – Royal Thai Navy Third Area Commander V/Adm Sayan Prasongsomrit will lead a candle-lighting ceremony in honour of Her Majesty
1:20pm – Environmental Office Director Kasem Sukwaree will announce an overview of the activities
1:30pm – Opening ceremony led by Gov Chamroen Tipayapongtada, who will then give good-deed certificates of Corporate Social Responsibility to local networks
2pm – Dr Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong, Chief of the Marine Endangered Species Unit at the Phuket Marine Biology Centre (PMBC), will explain the sea turtle conservation project.
2:15pm – Gov Chamroen will lead the release of sea turtles
2:45pm – Demonstration of water-quality analysis.
3:00pm – Release of 45 green turtles
3:20pm – Tour of Phuket Aquarium led by the chief of the facility, Ratee Suksuwan
3:50pm – Turtle release (40 more) and a concert by R-Siam star Luang Kai
Admission to Phuket Aquarium is free all day for Thai mothers and children.
• PATONG: Activities will be held at Loma Park:
10am – Best Mother awards
1pm – Performances by local students, opening of Mother’s Day exhibition
8pm – Candlelight ceremony
• PHUKET TOWN: 7am – Alms giving at Queen Sirikit Park
- Vachira Hospital to accept blood donations on this special day
• RASSADA: Ceremony at Phuket Rajabhat University to award 84 scholarships
• SAPHAN HIN: 7pm – Candlelight ceremony to honour HM The Queen
• KARON: Bicycling event starting at Kata-Karon Municipality:
6-8am – Registration
8:15am – Opening ceremony. Afterwards, cyclists will ride along Soi Koktanod, Patak Rd, and the beach road, stopping at tourist destinations through Kata-Karon
To honour HM The Queen, people traditionally wear clothes in Her Majesty’s official colour, light blue.