Cambodia holds Buddhist ceremony to bless king on 10th anniversary of coronation

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 28 -- Hundreds of Cambodian Buddhist monks chanted in religious language in front of the Royal Palace here Tuesday to bless the nation's King Norodom Sihamoni on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of his coronation. 

"Some 500 Buddhist monks attended the ceremony to bless the king on the occasion," Pa Socheatevong, governor of Phnom Penh Municipality, told reporters at the event. 

"During the past ten years, Cambodia has enjoyed peace and development in all fields under the king's reign." At the ceremony, hundreds of people lined up to make offerings of food to the monks as part of the ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of the king's coronation, which will be mainly celebrated on Wednesday. 

He said Cambodian leaders and foreign diplomats will visit the Royal Palace on Tuesday afternoon to bless the king on the occasion. 

According to the governor, the main event will be held Wednesday in front of the Royal Palace with the participation of Cambodian leaders, senior officials, diplomatic corps, and Royal Cambodian Armed Forces members, as well as officials from all state ministries and institutions. 

King Norodom Sihamoni, 61, was inaugurated and formally anointed as the King of Cambodia on October 29, 2004 after his father late King Norodom Sihanouk abdicated due to health problems.