Po Teck Tung Foundation Holds Merit Ceremony Honoring Queen Sirikit

The Po Teck Tung Foundation has organized a merit-making ceremony (gong tek) dedicated to the late Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, at Dusit Maha Prasat Hall within the Grand Palace in Bangkok. Provisions from the ceremony are being donated to the Duang Prateep Foundation and the Thai Red Cross to dedicate merit to Princess Patcharakitiyabha and other recipients. By royal command, Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana has been designated to represent His Majesty in performing the merit-making ritual.

General Chakris Youkl, Vice Chairman of the Po Teck Tung Foundation Board, along with other board members and affiliated organizations, were present to receive the royal delegation and participate in the ceremony to express condolences and gratitude for the Queen Mother's boundless benevolence.

For the merit ceremony, the Po Teck Tung Foundation commissioned the creation of eight paper dress replicas of formal gowns worn by Queen Sirikit on various occasions. All designs were tailored using local Thai fabrics from different regions, reflecting the Queen Mother's commitment to promoting Thai silk and traditional craftsmanship to the world. The replicas include: a silk gown embellished with beetle wings; a 1985 Thai-fusion ensemble from the Phaewa silk weaving tradition of the Phuthai people in Kalasin province, featuring expanded width for modern tailoring; a work dress worn during royal visits to northern Thailand, decorated with Kayah hill tribe textiles; a suit tailored by Eric Mortensen of the Balmain fashion house using tie-dyed and crepe silk; and a 1985 evening gown made of tie-dyed silk.