Millions of Thais bid King Bhumibol Adulyadej a final farewell
THAILAND - Draped in plastic sheets to keep off the rain, Thais slept in the streets of Bangkok yesterday to reserve a place to witness the funeral parade for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who ruled the country for 70 years.
The five-day ceremony for the world’s longest-reigning monarch begins late Wednesday, but crowds are expected to peak Thursday as the king’s body is moved to the Royal Crematorium, a three-tier, 50-meter (165-foot) high golden funeral pyre.
Bhumibol died aged 88 on October 13, 2016. Also known as Rama IX -- a reference to his lineage stretching from Rama I, the founder of the Chakri dynasty -- the King commanded great love and respect within Thailand.
His funeral will be attended by dignitaries and royal families from 42 countries including US Defense Secretary James Mattis, Britain’s Duke of York Prince Andrew, Japan’s Prince Akishino and royalty from Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Sweden.
A budget of three billion Thai baht ($90 million) has been allocated for the funeral, and Thursday has been declared a public holiday to allow Thais the opportunity to pay their final respects. The nation’s police force -- some 230,000 officers -- will on duty to contain the crowds.
The former king was immensely popular during his reign, with his portrait being hung, adorned with marigolds, everywhere from Bangkok office lobbies to the poorest of rural homes.
Built to resemble the sacred center of the Hindu universe, Mount Meru, the centerpiece of the funeral is an ornate funeral pyre called the Royal Crematorium which has been erected in central Bangkok, next to the Grand Palace. More than 500 statues, on which sculptors have been working daily for almost a year, have been created for ceremonies around the country; some of these statues will adorn the intricate tower. While Thailand is predominantly Buddhist, many elements of the funeral draw on Hindu traditions.
In addition to religious references, the artworks depict a variety of real-life scenes and figures, such as infrastructure projects built during Bhumibol’s 70-year reign and his two favorite dogs, Tongdaeng and Jo Cho.
(CNN.COM/Photo: KESQ)