For the Citylife Guide to the Royal Cremation click here.
October 26 marks the day of the Royal Funeral of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej which is being held at Sanam Luang in Bangkok. Across the country there will be ceremonies and flower offerings including Chiang Mai. The Royal Funeral ceremony will take place at the International Exhibition and Convention Centre from 9am to 6am the following day.
Schedule
9am The first round of placing the daffodils.
3pm The blessing ceremony of the royal funeral pyre replica.
5.30pm Royal cremation live stream by The Television Pool of Thailand.
6 – 9pm The second round of placing the daffodils
10pm (after the King Rama X has ignited the flame of the royal funeral pyre) Burning of the daffodils
There will be live performances at the following times:
1pm – 4pm
Stage 3 – Live performance of the musical composition of HM the late King Rama IX by orchestras and marching bands from institutions in Chiang Mai.
6pm – 6am
Stage 1 – Legendary traditional Thai plays by Chiang Mai College of Dramatic Arts Theatre including Khon mask dance drama, the Ramakien, The Story of Mahajanaka, Enau and more.
10pm – 6am
Stage 2 – Traditional Lanna performances
Stage 4 – Mon gamelan orchestra live performance
Here are two maps that Citylife have translated into English for your connivence. The first map displays the layout of the International Exhibition and Convention Centre and the second one shows the entrance paths and where the public should go to offer flowers and pray to the late King Rama IX.
TV Broadcast
The Royal Cremation Ceremony of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej will be broadcast live on all Thai TV channels in Thailand and via satellite on Thai TV Global Network for viewers in 177 countries. The ceremony will also be on the official website www.kingrama9.th. There will also be live videos on YouTube found on the front page of the Thai YouTube, and via Thai PBS which will be available in both Thai and English.
October 25th
Blessing ceremony from 4.30 until the end of the ceremony
October 26th
(all day broadcast starting from 6am)
7am The Royal Urn is moved from Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall to the Royal Crematorium.
9am – 4.30pm The first round of placing the daffodils for the public.
4.30 – 6.30 Arrival of King Rama X and the royal family, and the prime minister.
6.30 – 10pm The second round of placing the daffodils for the public.
10pm – The Royal Cremation.
The Daffodils for Dad ceremonies across the country will also be broadcasted.
Performances that tribute the late King Rama IX will begin from 6pm October 26th to 6am of the 27th. The live performances will be broadcast on the following TV channels:
Group 1 – Live western music performances and ballet (NBT, Channel 7, 8, ONE, MonoTV, GMM25, Bright TV)
Group 2 – Khon mask dance drama and traditional royal Thai plays (MCOT, TV5, TGN, TNN24, Spring News, Voice TV, Nation TV, Amarin TV and PPTV)
Group 3 – Puppet shows (Channel 3, Thai PBS, Thairath TV, New TV, Workpoint, NOW26, TRUE4U, TPTV)
October 27th
7am – The collection of the Royal Relics and Royal Ashes takes place at the Royal Crematorium. Then the Royal Reliquary Urn containing the Royal Relics is transferred to Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall, while the Royal Ashes in the cone-shaped container is transferred to Phra Sri Rattana Chedi in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
October 28th
4.30pm – Blessing ceremony for the royal relics.
October 29th
9.30am – The Royal Relics are transferred from Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall to be enshrined in the Heavenly Abode in Chakri Maha Prasat Throne Hall within the Grand Palace.
4.30pm – The Royal Ashes are transferred from Phra Sri Rattana Chedi in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha to be enshrined at two temples – Wat Rajabopidh and Wat Bovoranives.
If you live in another part of Thailand or wish to find out more information and updates about the broadcast of the Royal Funeral, check Richard Barrow’s comprehensive viewing guide for across the country.