Late king to get grand send-off

Practice makes perfect: Officials taking part in a rehearsal for Bhumibol’s funeral procession outside the Grand Palace in Bangkok. — Reuters

BANGKOK: Drums and a band played as officials in black tops and ancient costumes rehearsed for the funeral procession of Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, whose cremation next week is expected to be attended by a quarter of a million mourners.

Some held a mock-up of a golden urn that had held the remains of dead kings in the past. In the present, the king’s body is placed in a coffin but the urn is still used to represent the monarch’s remains.

The procession rehearsal yesterday, which took up to five hours, passed crowds of black-clad mourners in Bangkok’s historic quarter.

Some were visibly moved by the proceedings, while others held gold-framed portraits of the late king.

The military government has set aside three billion baht (RM381mil) for the lavish funeral.

Preparations took almost a year to complete, with thousands of artisans working to create an elaborate structure of gold-tipped Thai pavilions in a square in front of the Grand Palace.

Bhumibol, who died on Oct 13 last year at the age of 87, ruled Thailand for seven decades and is credited by some as having revived the prestige of the monarchy.

A revival in the monarchy’s popularity was helped by a formidable public relations machine – the evening news in Thailand includes a daily segment dedicated to the royals and the late king was often featured in his younger days crisscrossing the country to meet the poor and disenfranchised.

This helped to enshrine the king’s status as a demi-god among some of his 68 million subjects.

The five-day funeral will be attended by dozens of heads of state, including King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan and Japan’s Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko.

The post-funeral period could be one of uncertainty for many Thais, say analysts who point to the king’s role over the years as a moral compass and arbiter during decades of political upheaval.

His only son, King Maha Vajira­longkorn, formally ascended the throne last year, but his coronation will not take place until after his father’s funeral.

The king’s cremation will take place on Thursday, which has been declared a national holiday. — Reuters