Red Shirts Scale Back Thaksin Birthday Celebration to Modest Merit-Making
Red Shirts in Pathum Thani Province are scaling back Thaksin Shinawatra's birthday celebration to a modest merit-making ceremony and cake-cutting on July 26, moving away from large-scale festivities of previous years.
The Red Shirts of Pathum Thani have decided to forego large-scale festivities for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's birthday this year, instead holding only a simple merit-making ceremony and birthday cake-cutting on July 26. On July 22, 2025, Sarrarak Malaitong, a leading Red Shirt figure in Pathum Thani Province, announced that the group would scale back celebrations compared to previous years, keeping the event simple to show respect and remembrance for the former premier's work on behalf of the public.
Although there will be no major celebration, Red Shirts in each province can still express their support for Thaksin in appropriate ways, with all activities conducted within a framework suited to current circumstances. The central event will be held at the broadcast studio of TV Channel 24, fifth floor of the Imperial Building on Lat Phrao Road, featuring a merit-making ceremony with nine monks, cloth offerings for the Buddhist Lent season, and a simple birthday cake-cutting.
The group expects over 1,000 participants, with coordinators receiving ongoing confirmations of attendance. Multiple provinces across Thailand are preparing similar merit-making activities, taking advantage of the timing near the start of Buddhist Lent to combine charitable work with remembrance of the former prime minister. July is traditionally considered an auspicious month, making it an appropriate occasion for merit-making that brings spiritual benefit and peace of mind to all participants.
