ID :
30225
Fri, 11/14/2008 - 15:23
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/30225
The shortlink copeid
ROYAL FUNERAL FOR THAI PRINCESS BEGINS
BANGKOK, Nov 14 (Bernama) -- The six-day royal funeral ceremony for Princess Galyani Vadhana, steep in ancient Thai tradition, begins Friday as Thais set aside their political differences to pay their final respects to the elder sister of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Princess Galyani, a scientist by training and a French lecturer at the
Thammasat University, died on Jan 2 this year at the age of 84.
The government has declared a three-day mourning period and flags will fly
at halfmast while all businesses have been asked to stop or reduce entertainment
activities.
The ceremony, which combines elaborate decorations of the crematorium and
the processions, reflects the continuation of the strong culture and tradition
in the kingdom. A pavilion has been built at Sanam Luang for the funeral
service.
In Thai culture, which is strongly influenced by Hindusim, the monarch is
highly revered as a divine king. Rites and rituals for the royal remains are
held in accordance with age-old traditions in accordance with Buddhist
beliefs.
The revered King Bhumibol, who will celebrate his 81st birthday on Dec 5
and
is the worlds longest reigning monarch, will attend the funeral
ceremony.
The princess is highly regarded in the Thai society for her lifetime
dedication to the arts, welfare and education in the country, having been the
patron of 63 organisations and charitable foundations.
A royal merit-making ceremony will be held at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne
Hall today before the relocation of the princess' royal urn to the royal
crematorium.
On Saturday, more than 5,000 soldiers, students and ordinary folk will take
part in a procession of royal chariots and royal palanquins to carry the royal
urn to Sanam Luang where the cremation would take place on the same day.
The political crisis for the past six months which had severely affected
the
country's image and economy, has taken a back seat.
The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which seized the Prime
Minister's
Office at the Government House on Aug 26, has cleared a road nearby to allow the
royal motorcade to pass through and is also stopping political speeches for
three days.
-- BERNAMA
Princess Galyani, a scientist by training and a French lecturer at the
Thammasat University, died on Jan 2 this year at the age of 84.
The government has declared a three-day mourning period and flags will fly
at halfmast while all businesses have been asked to stop or reduce entertainment
activities.
The ceremony, which combines elaborate decorations of the crematorium and
the processions, reflects the continuation of the strong culture and tradition
in the kingdom. A pavilion has been built at Sanam Luang for the funeral
service.
In Thai culture, which is strongly influenced by Hindusim, the monarch is
highly revered as a divine king. Rites and rituals for the royal remains are
held in accordance with age-old traditions in accordance with Buddhist
beliefs.
The revered King Bhumibol, who will celebrate his 81st birthday on Dec 5
and
is the worlds longest reigning monarch, will attend the funeral
ceremony.
The princess is highly regarded in the Thai society for her lifetime
dedication to the arts, welfare and education in the country, having been the
patron of 63 organisations and charitable foundations.
A royal merit-making ceremony will be held at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne
Hall today before the relocation of the princess' royal urn to the royal
crematorium.
On Saturday, more than 5,000 soldiers, students and ordinary folk will take
part in a procession of royal chariots and royal palanquins to carry the royal
urn to Sanam Luang where the cremation would take place on the same day.
The political crisis for the past six months which had severely affected
the
country's image and economy, has taken a back seat.
The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which seized the Prime
Minister's
Office at the Government House on Aug 26, has cleared a road nearby to allow the
royal motorcade to pass through and is also stopping political speeches for
three days.
-- BERNAMA
