The coffin of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej was placed on the Grand Chariot and paraded through the palace to the crematorium in front of 250,000 people.
 |
| The Thai Royal Guards in black hats and red uniforms attend the funeral of the late king. Photo: Reuters |
The five-day funeral of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej began this morning in Bangkok. Thai people dressed in black gathered around Sanam Luang Square near the Grand Palace, where the Royal Crematorium was erected for the ceremony, according to Quartz.
 |
| The Universal Cremation Area consists of nine gilded towers, symbolizing Mount Meru, which is considered the center of the universe according to Hinduism. Thai people believe that after death, the souls of kings will fly to the sacred Mount Meru. Photo: Kingrama9. |
The funeral pyre was decorated with 600 statues of animals, gods and creatures from Buddhism and Hinduism. In a prominent position were statues of the late King Bhumibol's beloved dogs.
 |
| Thai officials said about 250,000 people gathered in the square for a chance to see King Bhumibol one last time. Photo: RTE. |
 |
| The coffin of the late King Bhumibol is placed on the Grand Chariot, moving from the Grand Palace to the crematorium. Photo: Reuters. |
 |
| King Maha Vajiralongkorn kneels before a portrait of his father during a ceremony this morning. Photo: Kingrama9. |
Thailand's new king will light the funeral pyre at the center of the cremation site at 10 p.m. tonight. King Bhumibol's ashes will be placed at the Dusit Maha Prasat Hall in the Grand Palace, where members of the royal family will pay their respects.
 |
| The Royal Guards stand guard at the cosmic crematorium before the ceremony begins. Photo: Reuters. |
 |
| Thousands of Thai people from all over the country have flocked to Bangkok for many days to witness the procession of the late king. Photo: Reuters. |
 |
| Cannons fire during the funeral of the late king. Photo: Reuters. |
The universal crematorium near the Grand Palace will be dismantled after the funeral. However, the government has built 85 similar crematoriums, nine of which are in Bangkok, where people can pay their respects to the late king.
The five-day funeral will include performances such as masked dances and puppet shows based on Hindu epic stories. The Thai government also distributed a 172-page document describing the late king's life and funeral.
 |
| People sit along the road outside the Grand Palace in Bangkok to wait for the king's coffin to pass by. Photo: AP. |
 |
| Part of the procession carrying the king's coffin. Photo: AFP. |
 |
| Thai people hold portraits of the late king. Many of them spent the night in the rain, sleeping on the pavements to be as close to the king's coffin as possible. Photo: EFE. |
 |
| A Thai woman mourns the king. King Bhumibol is considered a symbol of unity for Thailand, helping the country overcome many difficult political upheavals. The king is affectionately called "father" by many Thais. Photo: EFE. |
According to VNE
