Yesterday morning Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara Suvaddhana Mahathera, Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, presided over the opening ceremony of the "Chaleom Phrakiet Exhibition" an exhibition celebrating His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej as the model of a dharmaraja, a monarch strictly upholding Buddhist principles, being held to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne.

Dating back to the period between October 22 and November 5, 1956, when His Majesty entered the monkhood at Wat Bovoranives Vihara, the temple where Kings and members of the Chakri Dynasty, including HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, have stayed during their monkhoods since King Rama IV.

The main hall features a biographical exhibition with photographs of His Majesty's works, royal projects and speeches. Along the corridor is an exhibit featuring the Buddhist teaching "The Ten Guiding Principles for a King", defining the virtues of a righteous ruler. The principles have been firmly adhered to by His Majesty throughout the past 60 years, and the exhibition features images of His Majesty putting these principles into practice.

The Buddhist Hall's display features His Majesty's determination to support the role of religion in Thai society, as well as the history and religious regalia used by the Supreme Patriarch. It also highlights His Majesty's interest in studying the colour of Buddhist robes.

Later in the exhibition is a display featuring a room at the house of cards, where His Majesty stayed and practised dharma. Also exhibited here is the religious regalia His Majesty used while practising as a monk for 15 days.

The number of days that His Majesty has spent in the monkhood has set a precedent for anyone wishing to enter the monkhood at Wat Bovoranives Vihara, said Phra Kru Sangkasithdhikorn, who has been a monk at the temple for 14 years.

A film of His Majesty the King at the religious ceremony in 1956 for the inauguration of the current Supreme Patriarch, and the cartoon "The Story of Mahajanaka" are also being shown.

One 12-year old visitor to the exhibition, Veerapat Wannasathop, was brought by his father, Apirak, who commented: "I'd like to teach my boy that in Buddhist belief, a man should show respect to his parents by entering the monkhood and that even the King did this."

Meanwhile the royal exhibition at Muang Thong Thani is still drawing huge crowds.

Although yesterday marked the 16th day of the exhibition, hundreds of thousands of people visited it at the Impact Arena, where it runs until today. Since its launch on June 4, more than five million people have been. A further one million are expected on the last day today, to celebrate the life and work of His Majesty the King, said Government Spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee.

More than 10,000 orders for VCDs and books featuring exhibits have been received, he said, and all the income generated from them will be presented to His Majesty.