Smoke rises from crematorium built for Thailand’s late King Bhumibol

[chahlley]

(World Today Friday 27 October 2017)

Smoke rises from crematorium built for Thailand’s late King Bhumibol

Smoke is seen at a replica of the replica of the Royal Crematorium for the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej

as volunteers burn sandalwood flowers that mourners offered after the funeral ceremony in Bangkok,

Thailand on Oct 27, 2017. Photo: Reuters

Updated: 7:34 AM, October 27, 2017

BANGKOK — Thai media reports and images posted online in the wee hours of Friday (Oct 27) morning have shown smoke rising from the spectacular crematorium built for Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Thousands of black-clad mourners have been waiting in the historic royal quarter of Bangkok for news about the cremation, which is a key moment in King Bhumibol’s five-day funeral.

An 8am ceremony on Friday is scheduled for the collection of King Bhumibol’s ashes and their transfer to the Grand Palace and the Temple of The Emerald Buddha for further Buddhist rites.

After that, they are set to be enshrined in spiritually significant locations on the last day of the funeral.

Earlier on Thursday (Oct 26) night, as the country awaited word of the cremation, Thai television stations broadcasted classical masked dances and traditional puppet shows.

Some local media reported that there may be no broadcasts of the specific ceremony, which was due to start about 10pm.

On Thursday evening, King Bhumibol’s son and successor, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, presided over a symbolic cremation ceremony in which foreign and local dignitaries participated by making offerings of sandalwood flowers.

The symbolic cremation was witnessed by royalty and high-ranking officials from 42 countries.

Orange-robed monks chanted Buddhist prayers to bless King Bhumibol’s spirit as the official guests waited in line to walk into a spectacular golden crematorium to make offerings of flowers made from sandalwood.

Cannons and guns fired and the uplifting notes of a royal anthem washed over the plaza where ceremonies are being held.

Tens of thousands of ordinary Thais congregated nearby after watching solemn funeral processions that carried an urn representing King Bhumibol’s remains from Bangkok’s Grand Palace to the crematorium.

Sitting under a nine-tiered white umbrella and accompanied by a palace official, the urn was hoisted into main chamber of the golden-spired crematorium as monks chanted, traditional instruments wailed and artillery fired in the distance.

Thick curtains were then drawn across the crematorium so the monarch’s remains could be prepared for burning with rare sandalwood. His remains were placed in a coffin separately.

On Thursday afternoon, long lines of mourners formed as Thais wait to enter official sites around Bangkok to pay their respects.

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.

Replicas of the crematorium have been placed in all of the country’s 76 provinces, where people unable to travel can mourn.

After waiting in lines that in some places stretched hundreds of meters, mourners are able to present sandalwood flowers and incense to a photo of the late king. AP