King Bhumibol Adulyadej was the ninth monarch of Thailand from the Chakri Dynasty as Rama IX. The word Rama was adopted from the name of Hindu God Rama, an avatar of Vishnu.
It is a name adopted by the king on the time of his coronation. He was the longest reigning monarch, serving for 70 years and 126 days since June 9, 1946, until the day of his death last Oct. 13.
He was the grandson of King Chulalongkorn. He was born while his father Prince Mahidol was studying at Harvard University.
His older brother Ananda Mahidol became king in 1935. But on June 9, 1946, Ananda was found dead on his bed with a gunshot wound. Bhumidol immediately replaced his brother on the throne and married a distant cousin, Sirikit Kitiyakara, in April of 1950. She was crowned on May 5, 1950, a month after his wedding.
As monarch, Bhumibol enjoyed immense popularity and led an active ceremonial life. National celebrations were held in Thailand every June to mark the anniversary of King Bhumibol's ascension to the throne.
Citizens of Thailand were glad when the king's health went well after being hospitalized from pneumonia. But prior to his death, his public appearances became seldom that made the Thais worried. That's why the death of King Bhumibol has been a shock to everyone.
Thais grieve for the loss of their most beloved king. The red light streets that used to have many tourist are like abandoned buildings due to the loss of their king.
They decided to grieve for their king for 30 days for a sign of respect. Losing their king is like losing a part of Thailand that is their heart. Their beloved king will remain in their hearts and never will be erased.
