Positions and numbers of pavilions around The Royal Pyre this time are similar to those of Royal Cremation of HRH the late Princess Mother. The only difference is the Fine Arts Department decided to place Sang at the base of the Royal Pyre for the convenience of the monks. In previous royal cremations, Sang were placed near the fence.
The department also added a special elevating platform for the onvenience of Their Majesties, the King and Queen. There will be two elevating platforms at Phra Thinang Songtham's entrance and at the Royal Pyre.
The Fine Arts Department will also decorate the Royal Cremation Ground with flowers and with the colour blue _ known as the favourite colour of the late Princess.
Special decorative items will be Tung, Northern handwoven flags that lead people to the stairway to heaven or goodness, from Nan Province. HRH the late Princess Galyani Vadhana supported women in Nan province to weave these Tung. She also had a royal residence in Nan Province.
The governor of Nan Province will send 30 Tung to be placed around the Royal Pyre and adjacent structures. Each Tung will be 50cm in width and 5m in length.
According to Royal Tradition, all these structures will be removed after the Royal Cremation is completed. However, the Royal Court will leave the Royal Pyre for the public to view for a while. The Royal Pyre is such a magnificent traditional piece of architecture and the public has constantly asked the Fine Arts Department for permission to visit it.
After that, the Royal Crematorium and adjacent pavilions will be removed and according to tradition beliefs will be used for charity purposes. For instance, materials from the Royal Pyre of a Princess during the reign of King Rama V was reused to build a nursery, which later become Siriraj Hospital. The Royal Pyre and Phra Thinang Songtham used in the Royal Cremation of the late Princess Mother were reused as materials to build Wat Prathum Wanaram Ratchavora Viharn in Pathumwan district.
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-Anchalee Kongrut |
