Governor Narong Woonciew entered a 15-day ordainment as a monk at Wat Pa Phutthaphot Hariphunchai in Lamphun province on Aug 26 to make merit ahead of his official retirement as Governor of Phuket on Sept 30, where he was bestowed with the name Phra Nathaplo.
This morning he joined 15 other monks, including Phra Ajahn Ariyawangso, the abbot of Wat Pa Phutthapoj Hariphunchai, to take the 2.5-kilometre route during which people offered alms as a way of showing respect and making merit to enhance prosperity for themselves and their families.
The walk started just after 6am in front of Wat Phuttha Mongkol Nimit on Rommanee Road in Old Phuket Town, before passing through Luang Phor Chuan Road and Surin Road, concluding at the Governor’s residence on the corner of Krabi and Satun Road around 8am.
Joining well wishers along the route were Phuket Vice Governors Amnuay Pinsuwan and Anupap Rodkwan Yodram, as well as heads of government agencies, representatives from the private sector and citizens, who offered gifts including food to the monks.
PR Phuket reports the atmopshere throughout the walk as being very amiable as the monks passed by many landmarks in the Old Phuket Town area, although the number of people in attendance throughout was not specified.
Governor Narong arrived in Phuket in June 2020 to replace Phakaphong Tavipatana, having previously served as Governor of Chaiyaphum province.
So far, there have been no official announcements detailing who will succeed Mr Narong as Governor of Phuket when he leaves his post at the end of the month.