Hundreds of thousands of tearful mourners have packed the streets of Bangkok today for a lavish procession ahead of the cremation of the late King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Three separate and intensely solemn processions involving the current king, thousands of troops, a golden palanquin, a chariot and a royal gun carriage were moving a ceremonial urn representing Bhumibol’s remains from the Dusit Maha Prasad Throne Hall to the newly built crematorium.
The journey along a 1.2-mile route was to take at least three hours and was being watched in person by huge crowds of mourners dressed all in black.
Bhumibol’s remains will be cremated tonight within a golden-spired crematorium built over a year and representing mystical Mount Meru, where Buddhist and Hindu gods are believed to dwell.
Thousands of tearful mourners have packed the streets of Bangkok today for a lavish procession ahead of the cremation of the late King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej. Pictures show the Royal Urn carried in a chariot through the streets
Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana (left) and Princess Bajrakitiyabha (right), daughters of the current king, joined the funeral procession today
Thai mourners pay their respects during the royal cremation ceremony for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej outside the Royal Palace in Bangkok today
Thai royal guards salute the start of the Royal Cremation ceremony for Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej near the Grand Palace in Bangkok
As dawn breaks thousands of people queued up on a bridge to attend the funeral of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej
The event was also being broadcast on most Thai TV stations and could be seen at dozens of designated viewing areas across the country.
The funeral for Bhumibol will take 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 will be cremated on Thursday evening within a golden edifice built over a year and representing mystical Mount Meru, where Buddhist and Hindu gods are believed to dwell.
Honour guards stand by a portrait of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s portrait, placed in a replica of the royal crematorium
Royal guards take part in the Royal Cremation ceremony near the Grand Palace in Bangkok. Thousands of tearful mourners packed the streets today
The procession included the ornate Royal Chariot (left) and Rajarot Noi (right), carrying the country’s Supreme Patriarch
Drummers march in the royal cremation procession today. Three separate and intensely solemn processions involving the current king, thousands of troops, a golden palanquin, a chariot and a royal gun carriage were moving a ceremonial urn representing Bhumibol’s remains from the Dusit Maha Prasad Throne Hall to the newly built crematorium
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn and other members of royal family take part in the royal cremation procession
Mourners: The funeral is by design an intensely somber event, but also rich in history and cultural and spiritual tradition
Deceased Thai royals have traditionally been kept upright in urns during official mourning. But Bhumibol, who spent much of his early life in the West, opted to be put in a coffin, with the royal urn placed next to it for devotional purposes.
The urn was at the centre of Thursday’s processions, including one led by Vajiralongkorn in which the golden container was placed upon the Great Victory Chariot. Built in 1795 and made of gilded and lacquered carved wood, the chariot has been used to carry the urns of royal family members dating to the start of the Chakri dynasty.
As the chariot, pulled by hundreds of men in traditional red costumes, passed the mourners lining the parade route, they prostrated themselves, pressing their folded hands and head on the ground in a show of reverence for the late monarch.
Solemn: Tens of thousands of black-clad mourners have taken over the streets of Thailand ‘s capital Bangkok for the lavish five-day funeral of the late King
The funeral for Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej is an elaborate, intricately planned event lasting five days. The ceremonies and processions are steeped in Buddhism, tradition and history and defined by modern and personal touch
Thousands of mourners dressed in black have lined the streets of Bangkok and assembled at viewing areas across Thailand for the elaborate funeral ceremonies of King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Bhumibol’s remains will be cremated on Thursday evening within the golden-spired crematorium, which was built over a year and represents mystical Mount Meru, where Buddhist and Hindu gods are believed to dwell
Bhumibol’s death at age 88 on October 13, 2016, after a reign of seven decades sparked a national outpouring of grief. Millions of Thais visited the throne hall at Bangkok’s Grand Palace to pay respects
Bhumibol’s death at age 88 on October 13, 2016, after a reign of seven decades sparked a national outpouring of grief. Millions of Thais visited the throne hall at Bangkok’s Grand Palace to pay respects.
The adulation Bhumibol inspired was fostered by palace courtiers who worked to rebuild the prestige of a monarchy that lost its mystique and power when a 1932 coup ended centuries of absolute rule by Thai kings.
That effort built a semi-divine aura around Bhumibol, who was protected from criticism by a draconian lese mejeste law that mandates prison of up to 15 years for insulting senior royals.
But he was also genuinely respected for his development projects, personal modesty and as a symbol of stability in a nation frequently rocked by political turmoil, though his influence waned in his final years.
The funeral is by design an intensely somber event, but also rich in history and cultural and spiritual tradition.
The adulation Bhumibol inspired was fostered by palace courtiers who worked to rebuild the prestige of a monarchy that lost its mystique and power when a 1932 coup ended centuries of absolute rule by Thai kings.
Mourners are permitted to prostrate when royal processions pass but must not shout out ‘Long Live the King’ or hold up cellphones to take photos or selfies
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn stood in solemn silence as he tookpart in the royal cremation procession today
Long lines of mourners have formed as Thais wait to enter official sites around Bangkok to pay their respects to late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died a year ago and will be cremated Thursday evening
Throngs of people dressed in all black waited to enter the temples, parks and other public areas set up as secondary sites to take part in the funeral events. The main funeral is taking place in Bangkok’s historic royal quarter, where tens of thousands of people have gathered to watch the elaborate ceremonies outside the specially built crematorium
A royal guard bows as the Royal Urn of late King Bhumibol Adulyadej is taken on the Great Victory Chariot during a royal cremation procession
Mourners are permitted to prostrate when royal processions pass but must not shout out ‘Long Live the King’ or hold up cellphones to take photos or selfies.
Boonjerd Buasawat, a 61-year-old fruit vendor from the resort island of Phuket, had been waiting near the cremation site since midday Wednesday and slept there overnight.
‘I want to be here together with a group of people who dearly love their king,’ he said. ‘Our love won’t die until we too pass and follow him.’
Thais have braved tropical heat and torrential monsoon rains to secure street-side vantage points to witness the funeral. Thousands of police and volunteers are 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 color associated with support for political movements ousted in recent coups.