Thailand stages Royal Cremation rites for King Bhumibol Adulyadej

News in Asia
Thailand stages Royal Cremation rites for King Bhumibol Adulyadej

The new king of Thailand oversaw cremation rites for his father, the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, in Bangkok yesterday. The day began early with a merit-making ceremony at 07:00 in the Grand Palace’s Dusit Throne Hall. Afterwards, King Maha Vajiralongkorn led a parade from the palace’s Kamphaeng Kaeo Gate to a nearby temple. 

From there, the king’s casket was placed on the Grand Victory Chariot and taken to the Royal Crematorium site at Sanam Luang Park. When the procession reached the park, it circled the actual crematorium three times. 

In the evening, a symbolic cremation, a gun salute of honour and rites to allow mourners to pay their last respects to King Bhumibol took place. The cremation itself was at 22:00 and King Maha Vajiralongkorn symbolically ignited the funeral pyre.   

12GO ASIA notes that in spite of the fact the funeral ceremony is now over various rites still need to be completed before the streets in this part of Bangkok return to normal. The team also says public transport is going to be extremely busy over the next few days with mourners heading back to their home provinces. 

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