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STATES CHRONICLE – King Bhumibol Adulyadej was the ninth monarch of Thailand with the longest period of leadership. However, his people cherished this ruler, and some of them believed he had divine origins. His health started declining in 2006 only to succumb to death in 2016. After a year of morning, Thais began on October 25 a lavish funeral ceremony that will last for five days.
Thais Mourned Their Late Monarch for One Year at Which Time They Could Visit His Body at the Grand Palace
King Bhumibol died at the age of 88 as a beloved leader to his people. The prime minister announced a year of mourning to honor their late monarch. This period ended on October 25, 2017, which was immediately followed by a $90 million funeral ceremony.
The body of the late king had been lying in the Grand Palace. Everyone was welcome to pay their respects anytime over the last year. On October 26, the royal coffin will be cremated. Officials built a cremation site adorned with gold pavilions, especially for this event. Numerous mourners dressed in black slept overnight in front of the palace to witness this night’s procession.
Around 250,000 people are expected to join the funeral. On top of that, members of royal families all over the world received invitations to attend this event. The U.S. delegation will have Defense Secretary James Mattis as the main representative.
The Funeral Ceremony Cost $90 Million
The Thai government invested $90 million for this memorial procession. The cremation site is a work of art that is abundant in symbols. For instance, all eight golden towers represent Thai mountains. According to local belief, these magnificent landforms depict the edge of the universe.
Mourners will also have the chance to leave seven types of sandalwood flowers at the site. These flowers spread a fragrance that can guide souls to heaven according to Thai culture.
At the end of the Buddhist rite in honor of the late king, the heir to the throne will be officially recognized as the new king. This role was passed on to Bhumibol’s son, Maha Vajiralongkorn, known as Rama X.
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