Tsunami memorial services

PHUKET-PHANG NGA: To mark the third anniversary of the Asian tsunami on December 26, a number of services will be held throughout the region.

In Patong, there will a merit-making ceremony at Loma Park involving 108 Buddhist monks, along with speeches and a minute of silence in remembrance of the victims, from 10 am to 10:30 am.

Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit will lead the ceremonies, which are being organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand regional office in Phuket and the Patong Municipality.

In the evening, Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) is organizing a “Light Up Phuket” ceremony, where more than 100,000 candles will be lit along Patong’s three-kilometer stretch of sand.

Candles will be placed in the sand and lit between 5 pm and 7 pm while a standing vigil will be held to remember those who died.

Students from Tessabaan Baan Samkong School will perform songs and also help light cermonial candles that will be placed on the sand in Loma Park by the Minister of Sports and Tourism, Suwit Yodmanee.

In Kamala, the Phuket Japanese Association will hold a memorial service from 10 am to noon at the Kamala Tsunami Memorial next to the Kamala Beach Hotel.

In Phang Nga province, there will be a number of services throughout the day as follows:

– At the Marine Ship Tor 813, Takuapa District, at 9 am, the Phang Nga OrBorJor is arranging speeches and flower offerings in remembrance of the tsunami victims.

– At the Baan Namkem Tsunami Monument, Takuapa, from 8 am to 3 pm, there will be a multi-faith ceremony involving Buddhist, Christian and Islamic clergy, a floating boat ceremony by the moken (sea gypsy) people and a community discussion session on the topic of “lessons and problems in recovery” involving those affected by the tsunami.

– At Bang Maruan Cemetery, in Bang Muang, from 1 pm to 2:30 pm, speeches, merit-making and multi-faith ceremonies will be held.

– At Chong Fah Beach, Baan Bang Nieng, starting at 5 pm, HRH Princess Ubol Ratana Rajakanya will preside over a candle-lighting ceremony and the release of 5,395 lanterns in honor of the same number of people who died in the disaster. The ceremonies will include five faiths: Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, Sikh and Hindu.

There will also be an exhibition of Phang Nga province’s emergency preparedness on display.