Royal barge procession

BANGKOK, Nov 5 (TNA) – A fleet of 52 ornate ceremonial royal barges is set sail upon Bangkok's Chao Phraya River on Monday afternoon in a royal kathin ceremony to present robes to Buddhist monks to mark the end of Buddhist lent, according to Adm. Sathirapan Keyanon, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy.

HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn will represent His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who is currently receiving medical treatment at Siriraj Hospital.

The Crown Prince will perform a religious ceremony at Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn. He will board the Suphannahongsa royal barge with a prow fashioned in the image of a legendary golden swan at Wasukri Pier.

More than 2,000 oarsmen wearing traditional boatmens uniforms will use coordinated muscle-power to propel the intricately ornamented barges in an impressive ceremony.

The river and its environs have been prepared for the royal barge procession by the Royal Thai Navy for both security and pleasant viewing, Adm. Sathirapan said.

The navy commander said spectators can view the event along the river and the royal procession will
also be broadcast on TV.

The Commander-in-Chief performed a ceremony to pay respect to the goddess of the barge, wishing her blessing for today's ceremony.

TNA

Did anyone watch the Royal barge procession on Monday afternoon?