Thailand prepares for King Bhumibol′s funeral | All media content | DW | 25.10.2017

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Asia

Thailand prepares for King Bhumibol's funeral

Dressed in black and bearing yellow flowers, thousands of Thai people pay tribute to King Bhumibol, who died a year ago. Thailand-based photographer Rockkhound captures the mood in Bangkok during the five-day funeral.

  • Thailand Vorbereitungen der Beerdigung/Verbrennung König Bhumibol (@rockkhound)
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    Volunteers prepare a funeral of superlatives

    Thousands of volunteers dressed all in black have gathered in Bangkok near the Royal Palace to prepare the city for the five-day funeral ceremony for the late King Bhumipol. The monarch, who many refer to as the "father of all Thais," died last October after ruling for more than 7 decades. Thailand-based photographer @rockkhound took these photos for DW's Instagram account @dw_stories

  • Thailand Vorbereitungen der Beerdigung/Verbrennung König Bhumibol (@rockkhound)
    More

    Flowers for a king

    Over the last months, dedicated volunteers and artisans have prepared Bangkok for the king's cremation on October 26. Parks and flower beds around the Royal Palace are full of yellow marigolds, a flower associated with the king because its color represents Monday, the day he was born.

  • Thailand Vorbereitungen der Beerdigung/Verbrennung König Bhumibol (@rockkhound)

    Protecting the palace and ceremony

    The five-day funeral is one of superlatives, involving thousands of volunteers, musicians and performers. Some 80,000 security personnel will be deployed while 250,000 people are expected to attend the events. Since the king's death last October, more than 12 million people have prostrated themselves in front of his coffin at the Grand Palace, where he has remained prior to his cremation.

  • Thailand Vorbereitungen der Beerdigung/Verbrennung König Bhumibol (@rockkhound)

    Last respects for a much-loved monarch

    Volunteers dressed in black and with raincapes gather in front of one of the many giant posters of the king along the palace walls. These monochrome posters are scattered throughout the city and have served as points for Thais to pay respect to the world's longest ruling monarch, whom many in the country worshipped as a demigod.

  • Thailand Vorbereitungen der Beerdigung/Verbrennung König Bhumibol (@rockkhound)
    More

    Ornate replicas for the people

    Only a limited number of mourners will be granted access to the ceremony at the Royal Crematorium, which was built especially for King Bhumibol. All other Thais will pay their respects to the king at ornate replicas, like this one. There are nine such replicas in Bangkok, each topped with a golden spire symbolizing Mount Meru, the center of the Hindu and Buddhist universe.

  • Thailand Vorbereitungen der Beerdigung/Verbrennung König Bhumibol (@rockkhound)

    A year of mourning

    Thailand has been in mourning since the king died last year on Oct. 13. Government workers and many citizens have worn black. Businesses have published billboards with condolences, and giant monochrome posters of the king line city streets. Small stands like this one near the Royal Palace sell souvenirs with Bhumibol's face printed on them to mourners.

  • Thailand Vorbereitungen der Beerdigung/Verbrennung König Bhumibol (@rockkhound)
    More

    Waiting for the ceremony to begin

    Authorities have published strict regulations on clothing and conduct for those attending the funeral processions. People are advised to wear black and long pants or skirts. Jeans and tight clothes are discouraged. Anyone who attends must have an ID card. Loud noise and selfies are prohibited during the procession and cremation.


  • Thailand Vorbereitungen der Beerdigung/Verbrennung König Bhumibol (@rockkhound)
    More

    Volunteers prepare a funeral of superlatives

    Thousands of volunteers dressed all in black have gathered in Bangkok near the Royal Palace to prepare the city for the five-day funeral ceremony for the late King Bhumipol. The monarch, who many refer to as the "father of all Thais," died last October after ruling for more than 7 decades. Thailand-based photographer @rockkhound took these photos for DW's Instagram account @dw_stories

  • Thailand Vorbereitungen der Beerdigung/Verbrennung König Bhumibol (@rockkhound)
    More

    Flowers for a king

    Over the last months, dedicated volunteers and artisans have prepared Bangkok for the king's cremation on October 26. Parks and flower beds around the Royal Palace are full of yellow marigolds, a flower associated with the king because its color represents Monday, the day he was born.

  • Thailand Vorbereitungen der Beerdigung/Verbrennung König Bhumibol (@rockkhound)

    Protecting the palace and ceremony

    The five-day funeral is one of superlatives, involving thousands of volunteers, musicians and performers. Some 80,000 security personnel will be deployed while 250,000 people are expected to attend the events. Since the king's death last October, more than 12 million people have prostrated themselves in front of his coffin at the Grand Palace, where he has remained prior to his cremation.

  • Thailand Vorbereitungen der Beerdigung/Verbrennung König Bhumibol (@rockkhound)

    Last respects for a much-loved monarch

    Volunteers dressed in black and with raincapes gather in front of one of the many giant posters of the king along the palace walls. These monochrome posters are scattered throughout the city and have served as points for Thais to pay respect to the world's longest ruling monarch, whom many in the country worshipped as a demigod.

  • Thailand Vorbereitungen der Beerdigung/Verbrennung König Bhumibol (@rockkhound)
    More

    Ornate replicas for the people

    Only a limited number of mourners will be granted access to the ceremony at the Royal Crematorium, which was built especially for King Bhumibol. All other Thais will pay their respects to the king at ornate replicas, like this one. There are nine such replicas in Bangkok, each topped with a golden spire symbolizing Mount Meru, the center of the Hindu and Buddhist universe.

  • Thailand Vorbereitungen der Beerdigung/Verbrennung König Bhumibol (@rockkhound)

    A year of mourning

    Thailand has been in mourning since the king died last year on Oct. 13. Government workers and many citizens have worn black. Businesses have published billboards with condolences, and giant monochrome posters of the king line city streets. Small stands like this one near the Royal Palace sell souvenirs with Bhumibol's face printed on them to mourners.

  • Thailand Vorbereitungen der Beerdigung/Verbrennung König Bhumibol (@rockkhound)
    More

    Waiting for the ceremony to begin

    Authorities have published strict regulations on clothing and conduct for those attending the funeral processions. People are advised to wear black and long pants or skirts. Jeans and tight clothes are discouraged. Anyone who attends must have an ID card. Loud noise and selfies are prohibited during the procession and cremation.


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