PHRAE: The cremation ceremony for an award-winning makeup artist was a lively, dance-filled affair unlike anything that mourners in this northern province had seen before.
Images of the ceremony staged by friends of Theeraphat Wong-arin, 43, of Nong Muang Khai district have drawn lots of comments since they were posted on social media on Friday.
The event began with the procession of his coffin from Mae Khammee Thalor crematory to a cemetery at Ban Rattanapanya in Nong Muang Khai district.
Ten women in red Thai traditional outfits carrying baskets of flowers and popped rice on shoulder poles led the procession. They sprinkled rice and flowers along the route. No monks were present during the procession.
The funeral pyre was decorated with purple flowers and a photo of Theeraphat. It was a colourful ceremony of a sort that the black-clad mourners had never witnessed before.
Before the cremation, 30 women in traditional costumes performed three dance shows in front of the funeral pyre.
Somsamai Moonbuapa, 44, who organised the event, said she and Theeraphat were close friends and had worked as event organisers in Chiang Mai.
When he died, she said, she and her colleagues wanted to do something to that would make his final farewell memorable.
They pooled their money to organise the cremation and shows to please their friend, said the woman, adding that she had sought permission from his family and relatives.
Most of the dancers were selected from beauty contests, said Ms Somsamai. Theeraphat was fond of dance shows, she added.
Dancers and dry ice: The cremation of Theeraphat Wong-arin was no ordinary affair. (Photo by Taweeporn Sukkasem) (Photo by Taweeporn Sukkasem)
Mourners watch performances staged at the cremation ceremony. (Photo by Taweeporn Sukkasem)
(Photo by Taweeporn Sukkasem)