The body of Tridsadee "Por" Sahawong was returned to his birthplace Buri Ram on Tuesday, with several thousand fans waiting for his arrival at Wat Klang in the provincial capital..
The temple in Muang district was packed by people to welcome the body of the popular actor home from Ramathibodi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on Monday.
Students at Buri Ram Rajabhat University lined up from the entrance of the temple to Sala Dhammanuphab 2 to honour the late popular actor. The district was soaked by heavy rain mid-afternoon, but many braved the thunderstorm to welcome him home.
The body was taken from the hospital on Tuesday morning by his wife, daughter, parents and close friends to the province where he was born with the help of the Ruamkatanyu Foundation.
A crowd of actors, actresses, fans and admirers sent him off at the hospital, many in tears as they watched watching the motorcade departing for his final destination.
"You will always be in our hearts forever," his wife, Vanda, wrote on her Instagram account, vanda29, referring to herself and their two-year-old daughter, before taking the body of the 37-year-old actor back to Buri Ram.
The royal bathing rites at 4pm at the temple were sponsored by Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali.
Pol Col Rutthapol Naowarat, chief of Muang police station in Buri Ram, said about 50 officers were assigned to direct traffic around the temple, which is downtown near the city pillar. Police expected the temple to be packed with mourners until Sunday, when the cremation is scheduled.
"Por" died on Monday after battling severe dengue fever for 10 weeks at Ramathidobi.