Thailand’s Chakri Day and Everything You Need to Know About it

The people of Thailand observe Chakri Memorial Day on 6 April to celebrate the founding of the still-reigning Chakri royal dynasty back in 1782. It is also a day to remember all of the contributions of all the Chakri kings throughout the history of Thailand.

If 6 April happens to come on a weekend, then the holiday will be kept on the following Monday instead. Note that the date of the holiday is the day of the coronation ceremony of Rama I.It was soon after the founding of the Chakri dynasty that its first king, Rama I, made Bangkok Thailand’s capital city. Thus, the holiday can be seen to have special significance to residents of Bangkok.Today, Rama X, the tenth Chakri king, still reigns. He and the whole royal family oversee special services at the Royal Chapel on Chakri Day. They also visit the Royal Pantheon to honour the memory of earlier Chakri kings, and lay a wreath by the statue of Rama I.Only a few days after Chakri Day comes the popular three-day-long festival of Songkran, so this is a very festive time of year in Thailand.

What is Chakri Day?

Officially known as ‘King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke the Great Day and Chakri Dynasty Memorial Day’, today is a nationally observed holiday all over. Typically, the day is celebrated on 6 April, but as this year that date was Sunday, the rest of Thailand gets to take today as a substitute holiday.

Chakri Day memorializes the institution of the Chakri Dynasty by Rama I, who led the Kingdom of Siam in a fight against the Burmese who tried to attack and take over the land that is today known as Thailand. This fight lasted for over a decade, and at one point was lost to the Burmese. The then capital city of Ayutthaya was devastated, properties were destroyed and looted. Throughout the many years of battle, the Siamese people never stopped fighting back. It wasn’t until Rama I was appointed as Siam’s military commander in 1779 that the people of Siam were able to finally make a comeback and reclaim the city from the Burmese.

Overwhelmed with gratitude and respect, the Kingdom of Siam appointed Rama I as the head of the Kingdom on April 6, 1782, marking the beginning of the Chakri Dynasty.

The holiday of Chakri Day serves not only as a day of remembrance for the courage and leadership of Rama I, but it is also a day for Thai citizens to recognize and remember the contributions of every King who has ruled in the dynasty since its beginning.

What happens during the Chakri Day celebration?

You’ll get mixed results about celebrations and traditions based on who you talk to about what happens on this day. Thais that are less patriotic or traditional may use the day to relax or spend a long weekend at the beach. Others however may choose to nation actively partake into government-organized happenings and ceremonials, which include flower offerings and worships to the previous Kings of Thailand.

Chakri Day, while important for the people of the Kingdom, is even more important of a day for the King. Accompanied by other members of the royal household, he will pay respects to his precursors at the Royal Pantheon, and presides over several ceremonies held at the royal chapel.