Fine Arts officials begin disassembling Thailand’s royal crematorium

BANGKOK: A merit-making ceremony was held before Fine Arts officials started pulling down the grand nine-tiered umbrella, atop the crematorium, marking the begin of two-month work to remove the royal crematorium of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and surrounding pavilions from Sanam Luang ceremonial ground.

Thai News Agency ( TNA) reported a large number of people joined the alms-giving ceremony to 89 monks around the royal crematorium, presided over by Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan- o- cha to make merit for the late King before the Brahmin ritual was performed to make the start of crematorium dismantling.

Gen Surayud Chulanont, Privy Councillor to His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn presided over removing the 5.10-metre-high Nine-Tiered Great White Umbrella of State from the top of the royal crematorium.

The Royal Nine-Tiered Umbrella is part of the regalia of the King of Thailand.

The Fine Arts Department will spend about two months to disassemble all structures.

It is expected to be completed on March 15.

Parts of the royal crematorium structure and pavilions will be moved to be exhibited at the museum of the Royal Funeral of King Rama IX behind the National Archives in honour of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Pathum Thani province.

Pieces of the Royal Urn, sculptures of deities and mythical creatures in the Himmaphan forest will be on display at the museum.

The museum is under construction and will be completed in the next two years. — Bernama