Holy water is to be brought from five sacred rivers in India to His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej, by the Religious Affairs Department and Hindu organisations here.

"This is a part of the celebrations for the King's 60th anniversary of accession to the throne," Religious Affairs Department director-general Preecha Kantiya said yesterday.

He said a Brahmin priest from the Royal Household Bureau would fly to India to receive the holy water from Indian priests, who will collect the water from the most sacred sections of the Ganges, Yamuna, Saraswati, Saryu and Komati rivers.

"The holy water will arrive in Thailand on the morning of April 21," said Preecha.

He said the holy water would then be transported to Devasathan, or the Brahmin Temple in the heart of Bangkok, where religious rituals would be conducted before it was delivered to the Hindu Samaj Association later the same day.

On April 26, the holy water will move to Hindu Dharm Sabha (Vishnu Mandir).

On April 30, it will be taken to Wat Phra Si Maha Uma Devi (Wat Phra Si Maha Mariamman), on Silom Road.

On May 5, it will move from Silom Road to Charoenkrung Road and then to Yaowarat Road and back to the Hindu Samaj Association. That same day, the holy water will be taken along Rajdamnoen Avenue and to the Devasathan, where sacred rituals will again be conducted.

"Thai and Indian Brahmin priests will jointly conduct the rituals," said Preecha. He added that people could attend the rituals and pay their respect to the holy water. Preecha said the holy water would be presented to His Majesty on May 5, Coronation Day.

While Buddhism is Thailand's national religion, Hinduism - which first arrived here from southern India more than 2,000 years ago - permeates Thai religion and culture.

His Majesty is now the world's longest-reigning monarch. To mark the occasion, people of all faiths are planning celebrations.

Buddhists are planning mass ordinations and Christians plan to celebrate mass in honour of His Majesty.