Royal funeral pyre to be completed earlier than planned

BANGKOK, April 29 (TNA) - The construction of the massive royal funeral pyre structure for King Bhumibol Adulyadej will be completed earlier than previously planned, says Thailand’s Department of Fine Arts. The Department who is responsible for designing and constructing the funeral pyre began the process in January with a completion date in September. Director of the Fine Arts Department said since the construction progressed quickly he now believed the pyre would be complete in the middle of May. After the completion, next step would be landscaping and decorations around the ceremonial site. The main structure of the 50-meter-high pyre, is now finished. Artists are working now to decorate the pyre with sculptures depicting creatures from Buddhist and Hindu texts. (TNA)