PHUKET: The three-day parade of replica city pillars, satellite pillars and the tops of Phuket City Pillars across Phuket began today, starting from the old Phuket Phuket Provincial Hall this morning (Aug 2).
Rewat Areerob, President of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) officiated the event at old Provincial Hall, on Narisorn Rd in Phuket Town, which is now used as offices by the PPAO.
The convoy departed the complex at 7:30am, making its way to Wat Mongkol Nimit on Thepkrasattri Rd in Phuket Town, where Phra Aram Luang led a blessing ceremony for the sacred objects.
Joining the blessings ceremony at the temple were Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew and a host of other leading Phuket officials.
The parade departed the temple at 8am, making its way south through Phuket Town and onto Chao Fa East Rd, then continuing all the way to Chalong Circle, before heading north to Wat Chalong, where the sacred adornments will stay overnight.
The parade will continue through Kathu tomorrow (Aug 3)m where it will stay at the Kathu District Office overnight.
On Friday (Aug 4), the parade will resume at 9am, making its way along Wichit Songkram Rd and then onto Mae Luan Rd before turning left onto Thepkrasattri Rd and heading all the way to the Phuket Gateway in Mai Khao, at the northern end of the island.
Announced today (Aug 2), but not included in the parade’s itinerary announced on Monday (July 31), is that the parade will now stop at Wat Phra Thong in Thalang for two hours while en route to the northern tip of the island on Friday.
After stopping at the Phuket Gateway, the parade will turn around and head south again and travel to the City Pillar Shrine in Mueang Mai, Tambon Thepkrasattri, where it will stay overnight, ahead of the installation ceremony to be held at the new Phuket City Pillar Shrine built at the Phuket Provincial Administration Center on Tha Kraeng Rd in Phuket Town on Saturday through Monday (Aug 5-7)
Phuket officials today again warned, “Note that the ‘City Pillar parade’ is large. A parade may consider a stop along the way for people to pay their respects in an appropriate area/community. The schedule may be adjusted as appropriate.”
