Thai King funeral in pictures: Millions mourn the beloved King of Thailand - Latest photos
THESE moving photographs show Thai mourners turning out to say farewell to their beloved King during his five-day Buddhist funeral this week.
Thai king funeral in pictures: Mourners gather to say goodbye to the beloved King of Thailand
Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 88, was revered by many as a demi-god and was the world’s longest reigning monarch at the time of his death a year ago.
The King was cremated yesterday and his ashes were laid in a crematorium at Sanam Luang next to Bangkok’s Grand Palace.
Today the ashes of the dead King were collected and placed in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha at the Grand Palace.
ThaiPBC tweeted: “Royal Reliquary Urn is placed at Dusit Maha Prasad Throne Hall. The Royal Ashes container is placed at Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
Thai King funeral pictures: Royal officers pray to the royal urn of the late Thai King
Thai King funeral pictures: Thai mourners pay their respects during the royal cremation ceremony
Amid beating drums, the whistle of an ancient flute and an artillery salute, Thailand began a lavish and elaborate ceremony steeped in ancient rites yesterday.
The five-day funeral ceremony took nearly a year to prepare and could cost up to 3 billion baht ($90 million).
The funeral officially began on Wednesday with a Buddhist merit making ceremony in the throne hall of Dusit palace in Thailand's capital of Bangkok.
The ceremony has drawn mourners from across Thailand, with the late King's only son King Maha Vajiralongkorn leading the cremation ceremony.
Thailand mourns King Bhumibol Adulyadej
Mourners began gathering earlier this week to pay final respects to their King, braving a tropical downpour to camp out along the funeral procession route.
Even before the funeral began, many of the people gathering had tears in their eyes and were visibly emotional.
Thai king funeral in pictures: Mourners have braved the rain to say farewell to their king
Chalermporn Paebutr, 72, from northern Thailand, told Reuters: "I traveled here two days ago so that I could be the first to get a good spot.
"We only have to brave the rain for a few days. This is worth it if we can be near him one last time."
Thai king funeral in pictures: Mourners gather in the rain to pay respects to their King
Thai King funeral in pictures: Mourners wait for the funeral procession of the late Thai King
Crowds began gathering yesterday to pay final respects to their King, braving a tropical downpour to camp out along the funeral procession route.
Thousands camped overnight in rain, with some mourners seen hugging photographs of the King in their sleep.
Thai king funeral in pictures: The late king was revered as a demi-god by many
Thai king funeral in pictures: A mourner wears an image of the King on his head
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Thai king funeral in pictures: Crowds are starting to gather in Bangkok