Sanam Luang

Sanam Luang ( Thai: สนามหลวง, pronunciation: [ SANA ː m luan ] ) is an open esplanade, which is located in the Phra Nakhon district, the historic center of Bangkok, capital of Thailand. It is located opposite the old Royal Palace with Wat Phra Kaeo.

In the English language it is often used as Thung Phra Mane ( Thai: ทุ่ง พระ เมรุ ) or as Pramane Ground designated. This name comes from the past, as here took place nor the cremation ceremonies on the death of members of the royal family. King Mongkut (Rama IV ) in 1855 changed the name to Thong Sanam Luang ( Thai: ท้อง สนามหลวง ), in everyday parlance, but was shortened to Sanam Luang.

History

The Sanam Luang has existed since the founding of Bangkok by King Phutthayotfa Chulaloke ( Rama I ). First ( "Second King " ) were here to the cremation ceremonies of the kings and queens and the Uparat grand building is built, which should remind us of Mount Meru, the center of the Buddhist world view. The last cremations that took place here were the Queen of King Prajadhipok Rambhai Barni in 1986 and in 1997 the Phra Srinagarindra Boromarajachondeni, the mother of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who was fondly called by the people " Mae Fah Luang ". In November 2008, Princess Galyani Vadhana, the sister of King Bhumibol was buried in the same place.

In the government of King Phra Nangklao (Rama III. ) Was on the Sanam Luang grown rice for demonstrating against opposing neighboring countries.

Since the reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV ) Here a Brahmin fertility ceremony, the ceremony of the First plowing ( Thai พระ ราช พิธี พืช มงคล จรดพระนังคัล แรกนาขวัญ ) is carried out, to which the king must be present. The Court Brahmins try by the behavior of specially selected bulls the yield of rice crop to predict.

King Chulalongkorn ( Rama V ) increased the Sanam Luang, by demolished buildings, walls and fortifications which formerly the Wang Na ( Front Palace) belonged to the palace of the Uparat ( "Second King "). He also presented a rice cultivation and surrounded the place with two rows of tamarind trees. This was due to the preparations for the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the founding of Bangkok in 1897, which should be held at the Sanam Luang. The celebrations took place then after the return of the king from his trip through Europe. At the same time the 50th birthday of the King was celebrated.

1934 was held at this point for the first games of the Chula - Thammasat football game. It is a place findes annual traditional match between Chulalongkorn University and Thammasat University.

Until the late 1970s, every weekend the weekend market was held here. Today, this market has its own grounds in the north- east of the city, it is now called Chatuchak market.

October 6, 1976 perpetrated police and right-wing vigilantes on Sanam Luang and at Thammasat University massacre of protesting students and democracy activists. According to official figures there 46 people died.

Important building at Sanam Luang

At Sanam Luang are now numerous historic buildings. For example, from the south clockwise:

• Grand Palace with Wat Phra Kaeo
• Silpakorn University, founded in 1933 by the Italian sculptor Corrado Ferroci ( Silpa Bhirasri ); in the area of ​​today's university there were originally three princes palaces, including the Wang Tha Phra.
• Fine Arts Department
• Thawon - Watthu building - designed by order of King Chulalongkorn ( Rama V ) by Prince Naris first for the cremation of Crown Prince Maha Chaofah Wachirunnahit, later " Vajiravudh library," since 1977 "National Antique Building "
• Mentioned one of the oldest temples in Bangkok, it is already before the founding 1782 - Wat Mahathat
• Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Buddhist University at Wat Mahathat
• Thammasat University, part of the former Palace (Wang Na) of Uparat
• The National Museum ( on the grounds of the Palace of Uparat )
• The National Theatre ( also on the grounds of the Palace of Uparat )
• The National Gallery, built in the reign of King Chulalongkorn ( Rama V ) as the Royal Mint, completed in 1902; 1977 Art Gallery of the National Museum reopened.
• The U- Toktan statue of the earth goddess Mae Thorani
• The Justice Ministry
• The Supreme Court
• The Lak Mueang, the geographical center of the country.

Current usage

A popular pastime on the Sanam Luang is the dragon - rise - let, which is held during the monsoon time by every village in the country. This tradition probably originated in India, it was carried out already in the Kingdom of Sukhothai. Also La Loubère, French ambassador in 1687 in Ayutthaya, tells how the kings and " Tangerine " studied each other to excel. The competition ensues between a pair of bamboo poles and kites produced a " male dragon " and a " female dragon ". The winner is the one who by skillful maneuvers can force the other to land first.

Too many Buddhist holidays, such as to Wisakha Bucharest ( Thai: วัน วิสาขบูชา ) or to Songkran, the copy of the second most important after the Jade Buddha at Wat Phra Kaeo religious symbols of the city, the so-called " Sinhala Buddha" Phra Phuttha Sihing from the Phutthaisawan chapel in the National Museum, the former " Near Palace " of the sub- king, shown in a procession on the Sanam Luang. In 2011, however, these ceremonies took place due to construction on the Sanam Luang in front of the town hall.

The current King Bhumibol Adulyadej uses the Sanam Luang each year on March 11 for plowing ceremony, which he no longer attends because of age and illness, however, for several years. Instead, take family members there, the representation tasks. For the King's birthday on December 5, there is a celebration ( Thai: พระ ราช พิธี กา ญ จ นาภิ เษ ก ) to the citizens on the Sanam Luang are invited.

Another ceremony was the 200 - year celebration for the anniversary of the day of collection of the already centuries old Bangkok as the new capital by Thong Duan, who had pushed hard in 1792 as the first king of the Chakkri dynasty to the throne in 1982. ( Thai: พระ ราช พิธี ฉลอง กรุง รัตนโกสินทร์ ครบ 200 ปี ).

The Fine Arts Department (such as: Ministry of Culture) in 1977 recorded the Sanam Luang in its list Historical sites, which was given on 13 December 1977 Royal Decree ( Book 94 Part 126) known to the public.

The Sanam Luang is subjected to a thorough renovation since 2010 and has now been fitted with surveillance cameras and a fence. In this way one wants to tackle the problem of vagrants and illegal sellers in the handle, which had recently transformed the square and adjacent areas in a little respectable and sometimes pungent waste deposit.

Work on the Sanam Luang conducted exclusively construction crews of the Army, which includes the surrounding pedestrian paths blocked off in their work, even at the bus stops, so that pedestrians were able to partially use public transport only risking their lives. To-follow official figures, the renovation was planned anyway, the royal funeral ceremonies are normally held on the Sanam Luang will be officially mentioned for the elderly and sick for years current king nowhere.

Parts of the Sanam Luang were completed in January 2012, but only open during the day for the citizens.