Thai residents in Vancouver celebrated the 80th birthday of beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej, worshiping the world’s longest-reigning monarch with grandiose festivities.
About 300 guests — including diplomats, media and businessmen — joined the celebration hosted by The Royal Thai Consulate General in Vancouver at the Crystal Ballroom of the Pan Pacific Hotel.

The Consul-General Kosit Chatpaiboon welcomed the guest of honour, Richard Lee, MLA (Burnaby-North) and Parliamentary Secretary for Asia Pacific Initiatives, who also gave a welcome speech and proposed a toast to His Majesty the King.

“Thank you for joining us in celebration of the King’s birthday,” the Consul-General told The Asian Pacific Post at the reception, as he welcomed other guest and dignitaries at the main entrance to the ballroom.

A huge and elegantly framed picture of the King was put on display, along with traditional Thai artifacts symbolizing devotion to the monarch, to the wonderment of guests and dignitaries.

The prestigious event was filled with authentic Thai food from Thai restaurants in Vancouver, and featured a Thai-styled fruit carving demonstration by the Thai Association of British Columbia, Thai dancing performances from Visions of Thailand, a multi-media presentation (60 Years in the Life of a Working Monarch) and a Thai classical music instruments performance by teachers from Saint Gabriel College in Bangkok.

Bhumibol’s birthday has increasingly become a day of tribute to the U.S.-born king, who is regarded as the most influential figure in modern Thai history and the key to its stability. Bhumibol was born Dec. 5, 1927, in Cambridge, Mass., where his father, Prince Mahidol, was studying medicine at Harvard University. At age 19, he became the ninth king of Thailand’s Chakri Dynasty on June 9, 1946, after his older brother Ananda died.

Bhumibol has never publicly commented on his successor, an issue that weighs heavily on Thai minds even if it is rarely discussed in public. His son, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, has been groomed to succeed him.

In his six decades on the throne, Bhumibol has taken an active role in rural development and is respected for his dedication to helping the poor.

In Bangkok, the deep reverence for the King was evident in the outpouring of public devotion as thousands jammed the streets and sidewalks dressed in yellow and waving yellow flags as Bhumibol and his family drove from Chitralada Palace, the royal residence, to the ceremonial Grand Palace.