Three occasions were celebrated when a toast was raised at a reception hosted by the consulate general of Thailand at The Park on December 4 — the Thai National Day, the birthday of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej or King Rama IX, the father of the present king, and also Thailand’s Father’s Day.
The banquet at The Galaxy was done up with decorative umbrellas and statuettes of masked khon dancers on the reception table and each of the tables inside. The king’s altar set, including the Phan Phum (golden and silvery tray containing offerings to the revered), had pride of place on the stage.There were also standees chronicling the life and contributions of King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit.
The late king also featured in acting consul general Piyapan Atipatya’s speech, which started with a welcoming sawasdee krub. A legacy that he has left behind in both Thailand and India is his designed water filter pump, called the Chaipattana aerator, which is installed in various locations across Thailand for the treatment of water, mostly used for agriculture. “This aerator was given to the Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya in 2011 to treat waste water in the temple’s lotus pond,” he pointed out.
He also referred to a welcome development for Indian travellers. “Thailand has lifted the visa requirement for Indian visitors for a period of six months. This measure aims to promote people’s exchange by facilitating Indian travellers visiting Thailand, which is expected to reach a total of 16 lakh this year,” Atipatya said.
With the International Kolkata Book Fair coming up from January 18, mention was also made of “fun activities” that the consulate general would organise at the Thailand pavilion there.
The chief guest, principal secretary of fisheries Avanindra Singh, spoke of India’s long maritime ties with Thailand and the places of Buddhist interest that Thai tourists visit. He also mentioned the influence of The Ramayana on Thai culture.
A wonderful Thai spread laid out by The Park kitchen, supplemented by a dish curated by Chef Sirat-Tiya, was a talking point among guests.
Acting consul general Piyapan Atipatya and his wife Navynara
Consul Napacharapat Kulrakampusiri
Thai decorations at The Park
Melinda Pavek US consul general