Thai royal barge parade
Thousands of well-wishers lined the banks of Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River Sunday to watch King Maha Vajiralongkorn ride a glittering royal barge procession to mark his 72nd birthday. A flotilla of 52 ornately decorated boats, paddled by more than 2,000 oarsmen decked out in scarlet and gold, carried the king and Queen Suthida in formation through the heart of the Thai capital to a Buddhist ceremony at Wat Arun, the city’s ancient Temple of Dawn. The king took his place on a century-old royal barge known as the “Golden Swan” to deliver robes to monks in a ceremony marking the end of Buddhist Lent. Royal barge processions date back hundreds of years, but are held rarely, most recently, the king’s coronation in 2019. King Vajiralongkorn turned 72 in July, completing his “sixth cycle” in the 12-year astrological calendar — a milestone regarded by Thais as important and auspicious.
Normally the intricately ornamented barges — their prows decorated with gargoyle like statues and mythical creatures from Buddhist and Hindu mythology — are kept in a museum. But on days of national importance, navy oarsmen in sarongs, red tunics and traditional hats propel them through the water to the banging of drums, as perfectly coordinated golden paddles break the waters. The procession, the only one of its kind in the world, featured 52 barges and required 2,200 oarsmen. It was arranged in five rows and three columns, extending ¾ of a mile in length and 300 feet wide. The fleet proceeded in the river to the sound of beautiful boat songs written especially for this occasion and sung live. The barge procession dates back to Thailand’s 1350-1767 Ayutthaya period. When Bangkok was built more than 250 years ago, kings used the boats to travel through the capital’s network of canals.
The majestic royal barge procession graced Chao Phraya in Bangkok as the King and Queen travelled along the country’s main river to present traditional royal Kathin robes to Buddhist monks at the Temple of Dawn on Sunday afternoon. It was arranged in five rows and three columns, extending ¾ of a mile in length and 300 feet wide. At the important Buddhist temple, Spectators from the provinces started to arrive at 14 arranged viewpoints on both banks of the Chao Phraya River from Sunday morning. Some of them said they had been there since 4 am to find the best locations to glimpse their beloved King and Queen. They said that they had viewed royal processions on television and had a strong determination to view such a special ceremony with their naked eyes once in their lifetimes.
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