HRH Princess Siriwanwaree Mahidol, the Royal Granddaughter, yesterday presided over the opening ceremony of the UN conference on Visakha Puja Day at Buddhamonthon Assembly Hall in Nakhon Pathom.

The participants will tomorrow join a chanting ceremony to offer blessings to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest reigning monarch, as Thailand continues celebrating the 60th anniversary of his accession to the throne.

The rector of Mahachulalong-korn Rajavidayala University, Phra Thammakosajarn, said the chanting ceremony would take place at Bangkok's Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram.

It will be broadcast on Channel 11 and more than 20,000 Thai Buddhists are expected to participate, the senior monk said.

Visakha Puja Day, the full moon day of the sixth lunar month, falls on May 12 this year. It is the holiest day of the year for Buddhists, as it marks the birth of the Buddha, his attainment of enlightenment and his passing away - all of which took place on the same day of the year.

Somdej Phra Phutthajarn delivered a welcome address to conference participants yesterday on behalf of Thailand's Supreme Patriarch.

The conference is being organised by the university, which educates monks. It has received government support and is occurring under the supervision of the Supreme Sangha Council.

This year's celebrations are on a grander scale because they coincide with the royal event.

Most Venerable Tibatuwawe Sri Sumangala Maha Nayaka Thero from Sri Lanka noted

that the Buddha's teachings could provide solutions to global problems - ranging from overpopulation to terrorism, and oppression of women and children - and called for their propagation.