Sea of black in Bangkok as thousands flock to late king's funeral

Photo: Reuters

Bangkok: Thailand bade a final goodbye to its beloved late King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Thursday in a ceremony steeped in ancient rituals, processions and Buddhist rites that drew hundreds of thousands of mourners.

Despite heavy downpours, black-clad mourners crowded Bangkok`s historic quarter where the king's cremation took place.

The $90 million funeral marks the end of an era for many Thais who had only ever known King Bhumibol as their monarch. It ushers in the reign of the late king`s son King Maha Vajiralongkorn, or Rama X, who ascended the throne last year but whose coronation can only take place after his father`s funeral.

King Vajiralongkorn has overseen sweeping changes to the royal household, including the running of palace finances.

Earlier in the day members of the Thai royal family, visiting dignitaries and government officials placed sandalwood flowers at the royal funeral pyre.

'LAST GOODBYE'

The cremation of King Bhumibol began with Buddhist religious rites and ceremonial candle-lighting by saffron-robed monks.

Many of those lining the Thai capital`s streets had slept overnight on pavements near the Grand Palace to capture vantage spots for the funeral procession that wended past buildings draped in yellow marigolds.

"This is the last goodbye," said one tearful visitor, Pimsupak Suthin, 42, who traveled from the northern province of Nan to attend the function. "I really love and miss him. It is very difficult to describe."

King Bhumibol, also known as King Rama IX, died last October aged 88 after ruling for seven decades. He played a pivotal role in maintaining stability during years of political upheaval and rapid development.

At the start of the ceremony, officials dressed in blue and orange removed a symbolic golden urn from the Dusit Maha Prasart Throne Hall and carried it through the streets to a 50-metre (165-foot) -high royal crematorium in a nearby square. 

The king`s body was moved to the cremation area on Wednesday night from the palace, where it had been lying in state since his death. 

New King Maha Vajiralongkorn presided over religious chanting in the afternoon prior to the cremation at the royal crematorium, which features nine spires to mark the reign of his father, the ninth member of Thailand`s Chakri Dynasty.

One of the late king`s daughters, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, lit candles inside the crematorium.

Thailand`s supreme patriarch, Somdet Phra Maha Muniwong, led the religious ceremony, urging Thais to follow Buddhist teachings and "look beyond sadness".

Royals from Bhutan, Britain, Japan, Lesotho, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden, among others, attended the funeral ceremony on Thursday.

Performances – including the Thai Khon masked dance – punctuated the evening and added a festive air to an otherwise somber day. 

FLOWERS, PROSTRATION

Officials in charge of the ceremony said about 110,000 people had gathered near the cremation area, with 200,000 more nearby.

The realisation of the king`s departure was now sinking in, said funeral ceremony volunteer Petchpailin Jaidee, 60. 

"The cremation makes it real," she added. "I feel like he is truly gone, and it feels like the sky is falling."

A sum of $90 million has been set aside for the funeral, the likes of which has never been seen in Thailand, officials have said, even though King Bhumibol was portrayed as a frugal man despite being one of the world`s wealthiest monarchs.

Elsewhere in the Thai capital and around the country, 85 smaller replicas of the royal crematorium and more than 870 pavilions were built for mourners to lay sandalwood flowers and pay their final respects.

Sites to offer sandalwood flowers were also set up in 94 countries to give overseas Thais a chance to say good-bye.

Some onlookers clutched pictures of the late king and several prostrated themselves as the urn passed by.

"I was very fortunate to have been born under the reign of King Rama IX," said Piyamat Potsopho, 38, adding that she had waited for the funeral procession since Wednesday night.

In Nonthaburi province north of Bangkok, a long queue of black-clad mourners waited to place sandalwood flowers in a mark of respect, as volunteers handed out food.

DEATH LEAVES A VACUUM

Analysts say the king`s death has left a large vacuum in the Thai psyche.

King Bhumibol is often referred to as "father" by Thais and is credited with reviving the popularity of the monarchy.

Days of heavy rain failed to deter mourners, many of whom pitched tents to secure the best access to the funeral.

Many businesses around the Southeast Asian nation were shut, while Bangkok`s old quarter was draped in garlands of flowers. Some government buildings placed potted marigolds around the portraits of the king.

King Bhumibol was born on a Monday, a day that Thais associate with the colour yellow.

The king`s ashes and bones will be collected in an early morning ceremony on Friday.