More than 19 million people across the country made offerings of funeral flowers in tribute to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Thursday, including 2.96 million people in Bangkok.
The Interior Ministry’s coordinating centre for the sandalwood flowers-laying ceremony on Friday reported that a total of 19,126,740 people nationwide took part in the ceremonies for the late monarch on Oct 26.
Of these, a total of 16,160,884 black-clad mourners laid funeral flowers at 878 designated venues, including temples and replicas of the royal crematorium, in 76 provinces.
In Bangkok alone, a total of 2,965,856 mourners laid flowers at the nine replica crematoriums and other designated sites.
In Kanchanaburi, a total of 382,422 people in 12 districts laid funeral flowers at the replica of the royal crematorium, temples and other designated venues on Thursday.
And in Buri Ram, more than 356,000 people attended the funeral flower-laying ceremonies at the replica of the royal crematorium at the provincial hall and designated venues in all 22 districts.
Buri Ram governor Anusorn Kaewkangwan led heads of government offices in the province to float the ashes of sandalwood flowers at Huay Jorakhaemak reservoir in Muang district, to send the late King on his journey to heaven.
In all provinces across the country, local authorities held merit-making ceremonies and began floating of sandalwood flowers for the late King in local waterways on Friday morning.
In Surin, a total of 281,195 people placed the funeral flowers in tribute. Governor Atthaporn Singhawichai led officials to float the ashes on the Chi river on Friday morning after a merit making ceremony.
Trat governor Prasert Leuchathananont said on Friday a total of 71,876 people in all seven districts of the eastern province offered sandalwood flowers to the late king.
In Samut Prakan, 379,550 mourners laid sandalwood flowers. Governor Chartchai Uthaiphan on Friday morning invited nine Buddhist monks to perform a merit-making ceremony for the late King.
He earlier presided over the burning of the sandalwood flowers offered by local residents on Thursday.
In Pathum Thani province, governor Pinit Boonlert led local officials in taking funeral flower ashes from Wat Chin Wararam Worawiharn and releasing them into the Chao Phraya River in Muang district. About 296,000 people laid funeral flowers in the province on Thursday.
