Thais bid final goodbye to beloved ‘father of nation’

Bangkok: A solemn but colour-splashed procession streamed through Bangkok’s historic heart on Thursday as Thailand bade farewell to King Bhumibol Adulyadej in an elaborate, ritual-laden funeral that gripped a nation mourning the loss of its chief unifying figure.

Some 300,000 black-clad mourners packed the streets from early Thursday, many weeping and prostrating themselves on the ground as a golden chariot carrying the royal urn slowly snaked through the blazing heat.

Pipers, drummers and soldiers in a dazzling array of costumes joined Buddhist monks, Brahmin priests and the new King Maha Vajir-alongkorn as the procession made its way to the spectacular funeral pyre. King Vajiralo-ngkorn led royals, junta leaders and foreign dignitaries up the central tower to lay sandalwood flowers at the pyre ahead of the cremation, to a haunting accompaniment chanted by traditional singers.

The $90 million funeral drew a “Who’s Who” of Thai power — royals, generals and establishment figures —  as well as scores of foreign guests including Great 
Britian’s Prince Andrew and Japan’s Prince Akishino and Princess Akishino. For the public, the lavish affa-ir was a chance to say a final goodbye to a mon-ar-ch cherished as the “fat-her of the nation”.