Tens of thousands of mourners line Bangkok streets
A ceremony in an ornate throne hall yesterday began the transfer of the remains of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej to his spectacular golden crematorium in the royal quarter of Bangkok after a year of mourning for the monarch Thais hailed as “Father”. He was to be cremated last night, in a royal pyre to be lit by his son and successor to the throne, King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
Three separate and intensely solemn processions involving thousands of troops, a golden palanquin, a chariot and a royal gun carriage were to move the royal urn representing Bhumibol’s remains from the Dusit Maha Prasad Throne Hall to the crematorium. Tens of thousands on mourners dressed in black lined Bangkok streets to watch the journey along a 2km route. The event was also being broadcast across the country.
Thais have braved tropical heat and torrential downpours to secure street-side vantage points to witness the funeral. Thousands of police and volunteers were on hand to ensure order and entry into the royal quarter, which has been tightly controlled to eliminate the faint possibility of protest against the monarchy or military Government.
An activist had been detained earlier this week after writing on Facebook that he planned to wear red clothing on the day of Bhumibol’s cremation, a colour associated with support for political movements ousted in recent coups.
Before dawn yesterday, 63-yearold Somnuk Yonsam-Ar sat on a paper mat amid a crowd of onlookers opposite the Grand Palace in Bangkok. Her granddaughter slept in her lap and her husband rested his head against a metal barrier. The family arrived the day before from the coastal province of Rayong, where they run a food stall.
Somnak waved a fan to cool herself, but said she was not tired.
“I feel blessed to be able to sit here, and be part of this,” she said. “It’s an important day for us.”
The elaborate funeral for Bhumibol is taking place over five days and began on Wednesday with his son, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, performing Buddhist merit-making rites before chanting monks and officials in immaculate white uniforms.
Bhumibol was to be cremated last night within a golden edifice built over a year and representing mystical Mount Meru, where Buddhist and Hindu gods are believed to dwell.
Bhumibol’s death at age 88 on October 13 last year after a reign of seven decades sparked a national outpouring of grief and a year of mourning. — AP