A ceremony to collect water from 108 sacred sources across the nation for use in His Majesty the King's coronation ceremony will take place on April 6, according to Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paojinda.
The collected water will be delivered to local temples where it will be blessed by monks on April 8, and then to Wat Suthat Thepphawararam in Bangkok for a final blessing ceremony on April 18.
The lustral water will be moved to Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram in the Grand Palace on April 19 for use in the coronation ceremony, which spans three days from May 4-6.
The water collecting and blessing ceremonies are part of the preliminary rites being arranged ahead of the coronation day.
According to Gen Anupong, the water sources are from across the country and include Bangkok. Provincial governors and their deputies will collect the water in their provinces.
Gen Anupong said that the water sources comprise five major rivers -- the Pasak, Chao Phraya, Bang Pakong, Ratchaburi and Phetchaburi -- as well as four large sacred ponds in Suphan Buri.
He said the government will hold preparatory talks today before an official meeting on Saturday, which will be presided over by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
The government has invited the princess to chair a committee overseeing arrangements for His Majesty the King's coronation.
The Royal Household Bureau announced on Jan 1 that the King's coronation will take place May 4-6, with several ceremonies planned over a three-day period to mark the occasion.
His Majesty accepted the National Legislative Assembly president's official invitation to become King on Dec 1, 2016.