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Published on September 13, 2007

 The iconic structure has stood in the capital since 1784.

Cries of "Long Live Their Majesties and Her Royal Highness" resounded around the vicinity of the Giant Swing as His Majesty, HM Queen Sirikit and HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn arrived for the ceremony at around 5pm.

Thousands of yellow-clad people had waited in the area since early afternoon. Yellow is the colour associated with His Majesty's birthday.

Millions of Thais across the country regularly don yellow shirts to declare their loyalty to the beloved monarch, who turns 80 this year.

Arriving at the Giant Swing, His Majesty proceeded to a pavilion to pay respects to a Buddha statue. He then lit candles and incense sticks before assigning the chief Brahmin priest of Devasatan Temple, Phra Raja Gura Vamadevamuni, to pay homage to sacred statues at the temple with lit offerings. The Devasatan Temple is located close to the Giant Swing.

According to Phra Raja Gura Vamadevamuni, HM King Phraphutthayotfa Chulalok the Great (King Rama I) had the Giant Swing erected to remind his people about being cautious.

In Brahmin belief, after the god Brahma created the earth, he invited the god Shiva to test its strength. The test involved two big mountains, which are represented by the two poles of the Giant Swing.

The Giant Swing is also a key part of the Triyampavai-Tripavai ceremony - including the swinging ritual - which depicts a legend about how the god created the world.

The ancient Brahmin belief recommended that this ceremony be held during the establishment of Bangkok as the capital.

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin, who chaired the committee to renovate the Giant Swing, said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) had to find new poles for the structure because the old ones were too damaged to be restored to full strength.

Six gold teak logs were supplied from Phrae province for the purpose.

His Majesty sprinkled holy water on the refurbished Swing and pink rayon bands were tied around it. He then presented offerings to monks and poured ceremonial water.

Apirak, on behalf of the BMA, presented His Majesty with nine gold Phra Si Sakayamuni statues, nine silver Phra Si Sakayamuni statues, a set of nine Phra Sao Ching Cha statues, a statue of the Trimurti (the Hindu Trinity) and a scale 1:25 model of the Giant Swing.

The model is made of gold teakwood from the same trees that were used in the renovation of the Swing.

Later, His Majesty visited a nearby exhibition about the Giant Swing. At around 6pm, Their Majesties the King and the Queen and the princess returned to the palace.

Apirak later quoted His Majesty as saying, "So many people showed up … The weather is nice. There is no rain".

Apirak said His Majesty also recounted that he had witnessed the Swing ritual before and had asked when it was discontinued.

Asked by reporters whether the Swing ritual would be resumed, Apirak said, "We will leave this to the chief Brahmin priest to decide".

After the official ceremony ended, people crowded around the Giant Swing to have their pictures taken.

Throughout the neighbourhood, a variety of Giant Swing models were on sale with prices ranging from Bt390 to Bt5,999. The priciest models contained wood from the Swing's old poles.

Kupluthai Pungkanon,

 Mayuree  Sukyingcharoenwong

 The Nation