Royal funeral site open to public in November

Royal funeral site open to public in November

A Fine Arts Department specialist prepares figures that will be seen at the royal funeral in late October. (Bangkok Post file photo)
A Fine Arts Department specialist prepares figures that will be seen at the royal funeral in late October. (Bangkok Post file photo)

The public will be allowed to visit the royal crematorium for the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and various exhibitions at Sanam Luang between Nov 1-30.

Speaking after chairing a meeting of a committee overseeing exhibitions for the royal cremation ceremonies on Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn said the royal crematorium and exhibitions will be open to the public after the cremation ceremonies are held in October.

The exhibitions highlight the King's royal duties and will be supervised by the Royal Household Bureau and the Fine Arts Department (FAD), he said.

Other exhibitions will concern construction of the crematorium and the cremation site, which will also be overseen by the FAD.

Traffic flow around the cremation site will be handled by the 1st Army Region, Mr Tanasak said.

The Culture Ministry, meanwhile, will handle performances at the funeral site as well as public relations during the time when the site is open to the public.

Each agency has been commissioned to draw up an action plan to prepare for the post-cremation period before the committee's next meeting on Aug 10.

"The exhibitions and performances must be held properly to honour the late King and to benefit the public," Mr Tanasak said.

He gave assurances officials will be able to handle the large number of people expected to visit the cremation site.

People visiting the crematorium will be divided into small groups with designated routes, led by guides.

The committee will also assess how many visitors the Song Tham pavilion, part of the crematorium compound, can accommodate.

Performances similar to those planned for the cremation ceremonies in October will take place daily, Mr Tanasak added.

FAD director-general Anan Chuchote said the department was preparing to launch a Quick Response (QR) code system which will allow users to download both Thai and English information about the crematorium, other structures in the funeral compound and traditions relating to the ceremonies.

The code system will help alleviate the burden on guides, he said.

Meanwhile, Culture Minister Vira Rojpojchanarat said exhibitions in the Song Tham pavilion will feature the King's biography, his sufficiency economy principles and his royal duties both at home and overseas.

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