Mourners head home, others linger for final rites

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Mourners head home, others linger for final rites

Breaking News October 27, 2017 13:21

By Pratch Rujivanarom 
The Nation

As mourners began streaming home on Friday following the cremation of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol, thousands lingered to watch the week’s final processions.

 

Around 100 people weathered the pre-noon sun, watching from the north side of Sanam Luang as His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn led a religious ceremony centred on the Royal Reliquary Urn before it was transported back to the Grand Palace.

 

A much larger crowd gathered along Ratchadamnoen Nai Avenue to watch the fourth royal procession.

 

Once it had passed, it was time for them too to go home, to communities across the land.

 

Mourners swarmed across Pinklao Bridge to the Thonburi side of the river. Many more gratefully accepted motorcycle-taxi drivers’ offers of free rides to nearby bus stops or the Southern Bus Terminus.

 

Wichian Thaisawat, a 55-year-old from Nakhon Si Thammarat, said she’d been observing the royal funeral for three days, but now it was time to go home.

 

“I’m very proud to have done my duty as a loyal subject of the late King and bade him a last farewell as he ascended to Heaven,” she said.

 

“It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I’ll never forget.”

 

Sanam Luang is still brimming with mourners, though. Funeral rites continue into Sunday, when a final procession carries the late King’s ashes to Wat Ratchabophit and Wat Bowonniwet Vihara for interment.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30330225

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-10-27

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Mourners from upcountry start returning homes

By Thai PBS

 

 

Mourners travelling from all parts of the country to attend the Royal Cremation Ceremony  in Bangkok started to return homes today after they bode final farewell to their beloved King as his body was cremated late Thursday night (Oct 26).

 

Some mourners told Thai PBS reporters that they have fulfilled their strong wishes to take part in the Royal Cremation Ceremony to pay final tribute to beloved King Bhumibol.

 

They said they were happy to have attended the historic event which is once in life time.

 

Full story:  http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/mourners-upcountry-start-returning-homes/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2017-10-27