Thais pray while holding up portraits of Thailand鈥檚 King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Siriraj Hospital where the king is being treated in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016. Thailand鈥檚 stock market and currency have tumbled and the prime minister has canceled an overseas trip Wednesday amid concerns about long-ailing Bhumibol鈥檚 health. His son, the crown prince, returned home from Germany. AP Photo
BANGKOK鈥擧undreds of well-wishers kept up their vigil outside a Bangkok hospital on Thursday, offering prayers for ailing King Bhumibol Adulyadej as deeply polarized Thailand faces the prospect of losing its figure of unity.
Bhumibol, 88, is the world鈥檚 longest serving monarch, beloved by his people and portrayed by the palace as a guiding light through decades of political turmoil, coups and violent unrest.
He has been ill and hospital-bound for most of the last two years but his already frail health has taken a turn for the worse in the past week.
On Sunday and Wednesday the palace released two unusually grave health statements, saying the king was on a ventilator, battling kidney problems and that his condition was 鈥渘ot stable鈥�.
READ: Ailing Thai king鈥檚 health 鈥榥ot stable鈥� 鈥� palace
That sparked stock market jitters and prompted crowds of anxious devotees to gather outside the riverside hospital in Bangkok where he is being treated.
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Around 500 people held prayers outside the hospital, many dressed in pink in the belief that the color will bring the king good luck.
鈥淚 wanted to be close to him to pray for him because I love him,鈥� Anon Lim, 58, from northern Uttaradit province, told Agence France-Presse (AFP). 鈥淗e has done a lot for Thailand and for us.鈥�
Many burned incense sticks as they prayed and left flower garlands at the hospital.
Sawitree Ampairat, 26, came straight to the hospital with a handful of colleagues after they all finished a night-shift at Bangkok鈥檚 Suvarnabhumi airport.
鈥淚 wanted to do something for the king so I am here praying for him,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y heart feels heavy hearing the news (that he is sick).鈥�
Prepared but scared
Khomsan Prasertsri, a 48-year-old who runs a car rental business, was reading a prayer out loud.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 imagine how we can live without the king,鈥� he told AFP. 鈥淭hinking about not having him makes my heart drop. I don鈥檛 know how to explain what it would be like without him.鈥�
Thais have had many years to get used to the prospect of no longer having Bhumibol as their king. He has not been seen by the public for a year.
But his passing will still be a huge shock to the nation.
Backed by an intense palace-driven personality cult, he is revered as a demigod by many, seen as a serene leader above the din of the kingdom鈥檚 notoriously fractious political scene.
He built up a reputation for criss-crossing the nation to visit the rural poor and sometimes intervened to stop key moments of political violence 鈥� although other times he stayed silent and he approved most of the army鈥檚 many coups during his reign.
His 64-year-old son and named successor, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, has yet to attain his father鈥檚 widespread popularity.
Social media has lit up since Wednesday, with the hashtag #longlivetheking trending and people flocking to send in their digital prayers, some turning their profile pictures pink.
Princess Ubolratana, the king鈥檚 eldest daughter, posted a picture of a yellow heart on a pink background with the words 鈥淣eecha Loves the King鈥� on her Instagram feed early Thursday morning. Neecha is the online handle she uses.
Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgel Wangchuk, a fellow Buddhist, also posted on his Facebook that special prayers would be conducted 鈥渋n all the sacred temples throughout the country鈥� for Bhumibol.
Test for military
Bhumibol鈥檚 health is a sensitive subject and palace officials maintain tight control over news about his condition.
A draconian lese majeste law also makes public discussion of the succession all but impossible.
Analysts say anxiety over Bhumibol鈥檚 health has exacerbated the past decade of political conflict in Thailand, as competing elites wrestle for influence.
The military seized power in 2014, their 12th successful coup since absolute monarchy was abolished in 1932.
They say their putsch was to end political corruption and restore stability to the polarised nation but many inside the kingdom saw it as a move to ensure generals were in charge during any upcoming succession.
The military has deep links with the palace and long portrayed itself as the ultimate defender of the monarchy. Prosecutions under Thailand鈥檚 royal defamation law have surged since the takeover.
In a briefing note to clients this week, risk consultancy firm BMI Research said the king鈥檚 passing would likely create 鈥渕ore financial market volatility as well as a period of economic gridlock amid an extended official mourning period鈥�.
However the note added that any succession was likely to be 鈥渞elatively smooth with the junta maintaining a tight grip on power鈥�./rga