In Pictures: Thais commemorate birthday of late King Bhumibol Adulyadej

Led by 999 Buddhist monks, thousands of Thais gathered on a Bangkok bridge named after the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej on what would have been his birthday on Monday (Dec 5) , the latest organised mass display of grief in a divided nation adjusting to life without him.

Updated

Published

Dec 05, 2016, 12:32 PM

A woman holding a picture of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as people gather to commemorate his birthday on top of Bhumibol Bridge in Bangkok on Dec 5, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

A man praying with an image of the late king to commemorate his birthday on top of Bhumibol Bridge in Bangkok on Dec 5, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

For much of his seven-decade reign, King Bhumibol's Dec 5 birthday was an auspicious moment for Thais, with the monarch often delivering key speeches offering social guidance in a nation buffeted by years of coups and instability. PHOTO: AFP

Buddhist monks lining up to receive alms during an event to mark late King Bhumibol's birthday at Bhumibol Bridge over Chao Phraya river in Bangkok on Dec 5, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

A total of 999 Buddhist monks led prayers in honour of the late King Bhumibol to commemorate his birthday on Dec 5, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

Mourners holding aloft pictures of the late King Bhumibol who was stricken with ill health in the last decade of his life. He missed his last two birthday appearances before his death aged 88 on Oct 13, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

Mourners clad in black and white reciting Buddhist prayers on the top of Bhumibol Bridge to commemorate the birthday of the late King Bhumibol in Bangkok on Dec 5, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

King Bhumibol's death plunged Thailand into a year of mourning. Stricken with ill health in the last decade of his life, he missed his last two birthday appearances before his death aged 88 on Oct 13, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

King Bhumibol was widely revered as a calming constant and afforded a near god-like status among many Thais. PHOTO: AFP

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