In a national outpouring of grief, Thais across the country turned up late on Thursday night to bid a tearful and final farewell to their beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
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Tears flow openly at historic cremation
Post Reporters
In a national outpouring of grief, Thais across the country turned up late on Thursday night to bid a tearful and final farewell to their beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej in solemn, centuries-old royal ceremonies.
At 10pm, His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun presided over the royal cremation for the late King at the royal crematorium at the Sanam Luang ceremonial ground.
Smoke rose from the crematorium at 11.30pm Thursday, signifying that the last voyage of the late King had begun.
His Majesty also presided over a royal cremation ceremony at 5pm. The ceremony at this stage was meant to be symbolic, only involving the laying of cremation flowers at the royal urn.
Following the King, senior monks led by His Holiness Supreme Patriarch, the royal family, foreign royals and foreign dignitaries ascended the royal crematorium to lay cremation flowers.
The melancholic moment resulted in many Thais becoming inconsolable and breaking down in tears.
His Majesty the King will return to the royal crematorium Friday to perform religious ceremonies and collect the remains of the late King following the emotional royal cremation ceremony Thursday.
The late King's relics and ashes will be carried in a ceremonial procession to the Grand Palace.
The royal relics will be placed at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall while the royal ashes will be transported to the Temple of Emerald Buddha and placed inside the Phra Si Rattana Chedi, a main pagoda in the temple.
On Sunday, the royal relics will be transferred to the Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall in the Grand Palace where they will be enshrined permanently.
The royal ashes will be moved to the royal cemetery inside Wat Rajabophit where they will be kept permanently. Some of the royal ashes will also be enshrined at the base of the Phra Buddha Shinnasee statue in the temple of Wat Bowonniwet Vihara.
You can read the Bangkok Post's full report of yesterday's cremation events here: https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1349239/tears-flow-openly-at-historic-cremation
You can read yesterday's long story from the learning channel here: https://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/advanced/1349129/king-to-preside-over-grand-solemn-ceremony
