Royal Cremation of HRH Princess Bejaratana set on April 9

BANGKOK, April 6 (TNA) - On Monday, April 9, 2012, Thais will pay their final tribute to a senior member of the Royal Thai Family, Her Royal Highness Princess Bejaratana, at a royal cremation ceremony organized at Sanam Luang ceremonial ground, in the heart of the Thai capital. Her Late Royal Highness Princess Bejaratana, the only daughter of His Majesty King Rama VI, has been bestowed the highest honour just below that of a King or Queen. In Thailand, many different kinds of royal funeral are to be organized in accordance with different ranks of royalty. The late Thai Princess was born on November 24, 1925 at Bangkok's Royal Grand Palace as the only child of His Majesty King Vajiravudh or King Rama VI of the present Chakri Dynasty and Her Royal Highness Princess Suvadhana. As His Majesty King Rama VI passed away soon after having the first look on the newborn Princess, His Majesty King Prajadhipok or King Rama VII, the Princess’s uncle, then named his niece Bejaratana Rajasuda Sirisobha Pannavadi, which means a Royal Lady with the beauty of a diamond. Throughout her life, Her Royal Highness Princess Bejaratana had always performed royal duties, namely representing His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and other members of the Royal Family to visit rural and remote Thai areas, as well as promoting literary works left by her father, thanks to her brilliant commands in Thai, English and French. Her Late Royal Highness Princess Bejaratana, who has also been well-known for her natural gift with numbers, passed away on July 27, 2011 from a blood infection at the age of 85. The royal crematorium for late Her Royal Highness Princess Bejaratana, built at Sanam Luang, features a religious structure with the shape of four-sided castle, decorated at the top with multi-tiered white umbrella of state. The principle colours of the Royal Crematorium are gold and pink, with the pink representing Tuesday, the birthday of the late Thai Princess. The base of the crematorium is also elegantly decorated with gold fabric imported from China, which is made from mirror-like materials. Within the crematorium, a fire screen will be put up during the royal cremation ceremony. It is a folding screen attached to the pillars of the royal crematorium on all the four sides. A vine pattern is applied, with the top part of the screen resembling a heavenly abode. Before the actual cremation takes place, the royal remains placed in a large golden urn on a palanquin will be taken in a procession around the crematorium counter-clockwise triple and then placed in the catafalque decorated with scented flowers. A seven-tiered umbrella of state is placed over the urn in accordance with royal precedence. It is made of white cloth, each decorated with three levels of golden frills, the last one with floral hangings. The umbrella of state is only reserved for late Thai Kings, Queens, Princess Mothers and Crown Princess. The royal cremation of Her Royal Highness Princess Bejaratana will be organized on April 9 and the relic collection on April 10. Several entertainments arranged by the Fine Arts Department in honour of the late Princess will take place non-stop from 7pm on April 9 to 6am on April 10, including Khon or traditional Thai mask dance drama, puppet shows, live symphony orchestra and other traditional performances performed by over 1,400 artists from across Thailand. (TNA)