Bangkok - Hundreds of thousands of
black-clad mourners crowded Bangkok's historic quarter on
Thursday as the cremation of the revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej
officially began with Buddhist religious rites and ceremonial
candle-lighting by saffron-robed monks.
Many of those lining the Thai capital's streets had slept
overnight on pavements near the Grand Palace to capture vantage
spots for the funeral procession that wended past buildings
draped in yellow marigolds.
"This is the last goodbye," said one tearful visitor,
Pimsupak Suthin, 42, who travelled from the northern province of
Nan to attend the function. "I really love and miss him. It is
very difficult to describe."
King Bhumibol, also known as King Rama IX, died last October
aged 88 after ruling for seven decades. He played a pivotal role
in maintaining stability during years of political upheaval and
rapid development.
At the start of the ceremony, officials dressed in blue and
orange removed a symbolic golden urn from the Dusit Maha Prasart
Throne Hall and carried it through the streets to a 50-metre-high royal crematorium in a nearby square.
The king's body was moved to the cremation area on Wednesday
night from the palace, where it had been lying in state since
his death.
New King Maha Vajiralongkorn presided over religious
chanting in the afternoon prior to the cremation at the royal
crematorium, which features nine spires to mark the reign of his
father, the ninth member of Thailand's Chakri Dynasty.
One of the late king's daughters, Princess Maha Chakri
Sirindhorn, lit candles inside the crematorium.
Thailand's supreme patriarch, Somdet Phra Maha Muniwong, led
the religious ceremony, urging Thais to follow Buddhist
teachings and "look beyond sadness".
Royals from Bhutan, Britain, Japan, Lesotho, the
Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden, among others, attended
the funeral ceremony on Thursday.
Officials in charge of the ceremony said about 110,000
people had gathered near the cremation area, with 200,000 more
nearby.
The realisation of the king's departure was now sinking in,
said funeral ceremony volunteer Petchpailin Jaidee, 60.
"The cremation makes it real," she added. "I feel like he is
truly gone, and it feels like the sky is falling."
A sum of $90 million has been set aside for the funeral, the
likes of which has never been seen in Thailand, officials have
said, even though King Bhumibol was portrayed as a frugal man
despite being one of the world's wealthiest monarchs.
Elsewhere in the Thai capital and around the country, 85
smaller replicas of the royal crematorium and more than 870
pavilions were built for mourners to lay sandalwood flowers and
pay their final respects.
Sites to offer sandalwood flowers were also set up in 94
countries to give overseas Thais a chance to say good-bye.
Many onlookers were visibly moved as dozens of men in
ancient red garb pulled the golden chariot carrying the royal
urn.
Others clutched black and white pictures of the late king
and several prostrated themselves as the urn passed by.
"I was very fortunate to have been born under the reign of
King Rama IX," said Piyamat Potsopho, 38, adding that she had
waited for the funeral procession since Wednesday night.
In Nonthaburi province north of Bangkok, a long queue of
black-clad mourners waited to place sandalwood flowers in a mark
of respect, as volunteers handed out food.
Analysts say the king's death has left a large vacuum in the
Thai psyche.
Thailand has observed a year of mourning and radio and
television stations have played songs dedicated to the monarch
almost non-stop. The songs urge Thais to follow in "father's
footsteps".
King Bhumibol is often referred to as "father" by Thais and
is credited with reviving the popularity of the monarchy.
Days of heavy rain failed to deter mourners, many of whom
pitched tents to secure the best access to the funeral.
Many businesses around the Southeast Asian nation were shut,
while Bangkok's old quarter was draped in garlands of flowers.
Some government buildings placed potted marigolds around the
portraits of the king.
King Bhumibol was born on a Monday, a day that Thais
associate with the colour yellow.