PHUKET will join the rest of the nation in mourning on November 15 when Her Royal Highness, Princess Galyani Vadhana Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra is cremated in Bangkok.
HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana is the elder sister of His Royal Majesty, King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
She passed away in January this year, aged 84, after losing a brave battle against cancer.
The princess was dearly loved by the entire nation and was a source of inspiration to millions of Thais with her life-long dedication to humanitarian, health and poverty-related causes.
In accordance with ancient Thai
traditions, when a queen or a high-ranking member of the royal family who contributed significantly to the nation
dies, the reigning monarch arranges a series of merit-making and cremation ceremonies befitting the deceased’s honour and royal precedence.
The 300-day period, from HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana’s death until her cremation ceremony, is a reflection of honorary merit bestowed by the current monarchy.
In Thai tradition, members of the monarchy are revered as divine beings, and are said to be the reincarnation of gods.
Once their mission on earth is complete, the royals return to their heavenly dwelling on Mount Meru, where all gods and goddesses live their eternal lives as stated in the Traiphummikatha.
The cremation ceremony will be held in Bangkok at Sanum Luang ceremonial ground, after which the royal remains will be transferred to the Grand Palace in a ritual known as ‘Ok Phra Men.’
The Princess’s remains will be placed in a golden urn and set in a prominent position in the throne hall at the
Grand Palace.
A multi-tiered white umbrella of state will then be placed over the urn in accordance with the royal precedence.
A Buddhist rite will then be held, and repeated again after seven, 15, 50, and 100 days.
On October 29, Phuket governor, Mr Preecha Ruangjan, presided over a meeting outlining preparations for Phuket’s role in the cremation ceremony.
The Ministry of the Interior has chosen specific temples across Thailand’s 76 provinces which will serve as places of mourning on November 15.
The three designated temples in Phuket are the Vichitsangkaram Temple (Wat Kuan) in Maung District, the Get Ho Temple in Kathu district, and the Phra Tong Temple (Wat Pra Phud) in Talang district.
Phuket people should pay their respects with a traditional offering of sandalwood flowers, which is a customary ritual upheld in Thai-Buddhist cremation proceedings.
Phuket provincial hall, has also invited the people of Phuket to honour the mourning period for HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana from November 14-16.
Mourners should dress in black whenever possible.
Pubs, bars and other entertainment venues have also been ordered to reduce their noise levels during the mourning period and to operate their business in a low- key respectful manner.
Television channels and radio stations have been advised to make suitable programming decisions over the period, and all municipal offices and buildings will fly their flags at half mast.
Pol. Col. Grissak Songmoonnark, Superintendant of Kathu Police Station, appealed to tourists and residents to show their respects to the princess.
“Residents and tourists of Phuket should give loyal mourning to the princess and I would again ask the owners of entertainment places to display due diligence in their operational policies at this time.”
The Royal Merit-Making Ceremony will begin in Bangkok at 2.30pm and the offering of sandalwood flowers ceremony will commence throughout the Kingdom (including Phuket) at 7.30pm.
At 10pm, a flower burning ritual will take place at the three designated temples in Phuket.
The Phuket proceedings will be presided over by Phuket Governor, Preecha Ruangjan.