Thousands of Thais at Sanam Luang and the park's surrounding areas were seen weeping as smoke rose from the royal crematorium on Thursday night, signifying the beloved late King Bhumibol Adulyadej's final ascent to the heavens.
White smoke started billowing from the crematorium at 11.20pm in a melancholic scene not broadcast on public television.
The cremation of the late King had originally been scheduled for 10pm.
Mourners placed floor mats on Sanam Luang's grounds to camp as close to the crematorium as they could.
Many of them were still visibly grieving, even as the royal cremation ceremony's scheduled entertainment, comprising an orchestra and traditional khon masked dance and puppet shows, continued to perform.
However, some confusion surfaced when the performances at Sanam Luang abruptly stopped then resumed several times from 10pm onwards.
Many present at the ceremonial ground sensed the occasional silence meant the late King's cremation was due to commence.
Roongthip Phlaengrith, 43, gazed at the royal crematorium -- also known as Phra Meru Mas -- to find out if her affirmations were accurate.
"I started becoming anxious when everything went quiet," she said. "Officers started telling us not to take photos at about 10pm."
Having travelled from Phitsanulok, Ms Roongthip had taken the week off from her job at education ministry's provincial office specifically to attend the late King's royal cremation.
She had been seated on a floor mat, tearfully folding her hands together an hour after the royal cremation, a gesture adopted by several other mourners at Sanam Luang that night.
"Throughout this one year since his death, there hasn't been a single day where I haven't thought about him," Ms Roongthip said.
"But when I think of his teachings, I know that we all must move on and carry out our responsibilities."
Samruam Rattana, a 62-year-old retiree from Pattani, was visibly taken aback by what he saw in those hours.
As smoke filled the air surrounding the royal crematorium, music from the stages at Sanam Luang continued to play, with all three stages performing simultaneously.
"My heart sank when I saw the smoke," Mr Samruam said. "It was time to realise that he is truly no longer with us."
He said he had heard rumours from his friends saying the royal cremation had been postponed because citizens outside Sanam Luang were still placing ceremonial flowers, or dok mai chan, at several replica royal crematoriums across the country.
While he was shaken when the cremation started, Mr Samruam said he had "completed his mission", by travelling to the ceremonial grounds to pay his respects to the late King.
"Regardless of how things transpired, we were all steadfast about coming here," he said. "The main objective was to send the late King to the heavens."
The next morning, the royal ceremonial grounds were significantly emptier, as many mourners left during the night once the cremation was complete.
After the late King's cremation, life around Sanam Luang resumed slowly, with thinner crowds being seen around the Samsen and Ratchadamnoen area yesterday afternoon.
Several mourners were seen checking out of their hotels, homeward bound, while regular traffic also resumed.
Meanwhile, the royal processions continued as planned at Sanam Luang, with the 4th procession being concluded yesterday.
Crowds of people were seen kneeling down to prostrate as the late King's royal ashes and relics were carried past them atop the "Rajendravan Noi", a palanquin specially created for his royal cremation ceremony.
Wanthani Wongpanyaphorn, 52, said it was an honour to watch as the royal cremation ceremony commenced.
"The opportunity to send off the father of our nation is a great privilege," she said. "The late King had been suffering for so long.
"It's time for him to finally rest," Ms Wanthani added.