For the King: how King Bhumibol’s royal cremation ceremony attained perfection (video)

Channel NewsAsia was able to obtain unprecedented access to some of the key people involved in the royal cremation of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Take a peak behind the scenes as those involved give their all For The King

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The funeral of any head of state is a lavish affair. Depending on the country, the pageantry and ceremony can be steeped in traditions centuries old.

For The King: How King Bhumibol’s Cremation Ceremony Attained PerfectionThe royal cremation ceremony last month of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej gave Thai observers, history buffs, and monarchists the world over a rare glimpse at the ceremony and traditions of ancient Siam.

The five days of the royal cremation ceremony involved thousands of troops, large and small processions as the body — and later the ashes — were moved in accordance with tradition before being interned at two Bangkok Buddhist temples.

For those watching the live television feed, or even from the roadside where the processions took place, the enormity of the spectacle they were witnessing would have been difficult to fully comprehend.

In just twelve months a muddy field in the heart of old Bangkok was transformed into an earthly representation of the mythical Mount Meru, the heavenly centre of the universe in both Buddhist and Hindu mythology.

Measuring 60 sq.meters (646 sq.ft) at the base and towering 50 meters (164 ft) tall, the imposing crematorium tower utilised a steel frame to allow for easy dismantling after the ceremony, presenting architects, designers, and engineers with a unique challenge.

Officially the budget for constructing King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s crematorium was set at Bt3 billion (about US$90 million), but this figure does not account for donations of labour and materials by a host of foundations, corporations, and individuals.

Two gold-gilded, wood and steel chariots more than 200-years-old needed to be refurbished; more than 500 statues needed to be hand crafted and decorated, while ornately crafted sandalwood sarcophagus’ comprising thousands of pieces of minute, hand-cut pieces of timber needed to be crafted for the royal coffin and the symbolic royal urn. (See: Inside the Royal Crematorium of King Bhumibol The Great (photo special)

Additionally, more than 5,600 Thai soldiers, sailors, and airmen needed to be trained how to march the difficult-to-master Thai military slow march perfectly, for a Great Victory Parade that would take more than four hours to cover its 890 metre (0.55 mile) length and involve more than 2,400 troops.

For The King: How King Bhumibol’s Cremation Ceremony Attained PerfectionIn keeping with ancient traditions, the royal cremation ceremony of King Bhumibol Adulyadej required 89 dancers skilled in the traditional Thai Khon dance technique, traditionally only performed for royalty, learning to dance together and in unison.

While much has been written about the royal cremation of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the vast majority of it has been written in Thai language and subsequently remains unseen by international audiences. While Thai media were given almost unlimited to access to those involved in the preparations, requests by foreign media (including AEC News Today) went largely unanswered, or not acted on.

More persistent was Channel NewsAsia who doggedly pursued obtaining the vast number of approvals from people and organisations involved in the royal cremation ceremony of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

A story of motivation, determination, exuberance

Despite various milestone moments taking place without much or any warning and the strict restriction of movement on the actual cremation day, the result is a unique, behind-the scenes glimpse at the motivation, determination, and, after having conquered all of the challenges and delivered their best, the exuberance of some of the key people involved in making the royal cremation ceremony one that was fit for a King of Kings.

Narrated by Ben Price, For The King takes viewers on a journey, first painting a picture of the deep, inconsolable feeling of loss felt by Thais when news of King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s death was announced on October 13, 2016. (See: End Of Days: Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej Dead)

Commencing about six months prior to the royal cremation ceremony, For the King follows the personal challenges, doubts, and sacrifices of key players, whose identity and roles in ensuring the royal cremation of King Bhumibol Adulyadej was as perfect as humanly possible was achieved.

Along the way you will meet key individuals, and hear and see from them what it meant to be part of the royal cremation ceremony of King Bhumibol. Among those speaking about their challenges, doubts, and motivation are:

For The King: How King Bhumibol’s Cremation Ceremony Attained Perfection

  • Jeadsada Chevavichavankul, head engineer for the royal crematorium’s construction.
  • Sculptor Ati Kongsuk, tasked with sculpting a 2.5 metre (about 8.2ft) tall statue of the god Indra.
  • Pichit Nim-Ngam, the senior artisan with the Department of Fine Arts.
  • Yunee Teranun, a senior restorer rehabilitating the royal chariots.
  • Phramaha Rajaguru Bidhi Sri Visudhigun, head Brahman monk.
  • Jiraseth Sukhasvasti, a distant member of the royal family
  • Woradet Jutakanon, 21-years-old and one of the 216 soldiers selected from thousands of volunteers to pull the almost 14 ton Great Victory Royal Chariot (Phra Maha Phichai Ratcharot) carrying the body of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
  • Chudamas Puttajunya, a 21-year-old dance student chosen to perform the Khon “mask” dance before the cremation

Premiering on Channel NewsAsia on Sunday, November 19, at 8.00pm (SIN/KL/MNL) / 7.00pm (BKK/JKT) / 5.30pm (DEL), For the King is compelling viewing of some of the work that went in to organising the historically rich royal cremation ceremony of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Produced as a DIGITAL FIRST programme, the documentary documentary can also be viewed online now at For The King.

 

 

Photos Supplied

 

 

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John Le Fevre

Thailand editor at AEC News Today

John is an Australian national with more than 40 years experience as a journalist, photographer, videographer, and copy editor.

He has spent extensive periods of time working in Africa and throughout Southeast Asia, with stints in the Middle East, the USA, and England.

He has covered major world events including Operation Desert Shield/ Storm, the 1991 pillage in Zaire, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the 1999 East Timor independence unrest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the 2009, 2010, and 2014 Bangkok political protests.

In 1995 he was a Walkley Award finalist, the highest awards in Australian journalism, for his coverage of the 1995 Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola outbreak.

Prior to AEC News Today he was the deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region editor for The Establishment Post, predecessor of Asean Today.

In the mid-80s and early 90s he owned JLF Promotions, the largest above and below the line marketing and PR firm servicing the high-technology industry in Australia. It was sold in 1995.

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