A Glimpse of Smiles Across the Miles

RAMA I, the founder of the Chakri Dynasty, reigned between 1782 and 1809 period.  He ordered the construction of Wat Suthat just right after his coronation.  RAMA I walked barefoot while bringing the temple's main Buddha bronze image to Bangkok through the river from Sukothai and was said to have been exhausted all throughout the procession as he staggered his way into the temple Suthat afterwards.  A seven-day festivity was then ordered and declared by RAMA I upon the arrival of the bronze image at the temple.

Wat Suthat was continued by RAMA II during his reign (1809 to 1824) but was completed during the reign of RAMA III (1824-1851).

The Giant Swing was designed under the reign of RAMA II for the sole purpose of celebrating and thanking the god Shiva for the bountiful rice harvest and for still future blessings.  The rice minister in the company of Brahman court astrologers would normally lead the parade across the city walls to Wat Suthat's vicinity.  Groups of men would then ride the swing on the arcs as high as 82 feet afloating the air while holding a bag of silver coins with their teeth.  But because of a notably recorded injuries and deaths incidences, the dangerous swing ceremony were discontinued  although the thanksgiving ceremony was still observed in the middle of December of the year 1932 after the rice harvest.  The huge teak arch in red color presently found in the middle of the road is all that remains of an original giant swing.