Sandalwood & Sorrow [for Thai Princess]

A man pays his respects to a portrait of the late Princess Galyani Vadhana yesterday.
Royal Guards line up to face the royal urn.
People gather to witness the procession for the royal cremation.
REVERENCE: An elderly woman lays flowers during the royal cremation.

HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana 1923 - 2008

Sunday November 16, 2008
Surasak Glahan and Lamphai Intathep
Bangkok Post

It was not only a chance to pay their last respects to Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana, but also the opportunity of a lifetime - many Thais clad in black said - as they attended the royal funeral yesterday.

In the morning, thousands of people of all ages from around the country dressed in the mourning colours of black and white joined the royal cremation ceremony at Sanam Luang.

Before all three royal processions were ready to start moving the royal urn to the crematorium, thousands lined the route from the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall to Sanam Luang to witness the historical event.

Some mourners arrived before dawn to find the best place to watch the procession.

Most came from the countryside in rented buses or paid 100-500 baht to tour operators to participate in the six-day event.

The atmosphere was one of deep sadness mixed with a little chaos when the royal procession by officials in traditional uniforms slowly passed the crowds.

Many stood to get a better view, crushing those in front of them. Some pressed their hands together in a wai and bowed their heads to show respect.

"I don't want to miss this last chance to pay my respects to her. I am overwhelmed to see so many people coming here for the same purpose as well," said 60-year-old Suree Jitapiradeekul.

Princess Galyani passed away on Jan 2 this year at the age of 84 after a long battle with cancer.

Mrs Suree said she missed the princess, who had worked tirelessly for the Thai people. Like many elderly people who made up the majority of mourners at the royal event yesterday, she said she came with about 30 women friends of the same generation in a group from Chai Nat to Bangkok. They arrived at the funeral site at 5am to get a good spot.

Another woman, 73-year-old Pin Thongnoo-iad, said she was glad to have the chance to see the beauty of the royal pyre.

Mrs Pin, who travelled with 50 of her friends of a similar age from Phatthalung, said she wanted to see the event with her own eyes.

"The princess will remain in my memory as the savior of disabled children and disadvantaged villagers," she said.

They were among thousands of Thais who arrived at the event early yesterday morning, competing for the best vantage spots. Many travelled a long way from distant provinces.

They waited eagerly and patiently to get a glimpse of the procession to transfer the royal urn to the royal crematorium.As the morning went by and the weather started warming up, many mourners still maintained their bases, while some moved into shaded areas within the site.

Sa-aad Somtapmor, 70, said while sitting in the shade that he regarded his presence as merit-making for the late princess. He said he would remember her for her dedication in working for underprivileged Thais, the same as he remembered HRH the Princess Mother.

"I am so glad to see so many thousands of people gathering here to witness the event," he added.

Nineteen-year-old student Kamolthip Santhi said she knew the princess for her charity work and her TV documentaries on royal trips abroad.

"This event is the opportunity of a lifetime for me, and I am glad to have a chance to be part of it," she said.

Kanyanat Teykamol, 18, who was dressed in a student's uniform, said she had gone out alone to watch because her family in Udon Thani wanted her to be their representative and to bid a last farewell to the princess.

"My father told me that only once in my life can I be part of such a traditional rite, and it was a good opportunity to pay my respects to a royal," said the secondary student.

Another mourner, Boonkom Charirak, had ridden a bicycle more than 600 kilometres from his hometown of Kalasin to attend the ceremony. It was the second time he had ridden his bicycle to Bangkok - the first was last year when he came to celebrate His Majesty the King's 80th birthday.

It took him two and a half days to get to Bangkok. The 48-year-old said he had come to show his loyalty to the princess. But it was not only Thai people who joined yesterday's ceremony. Peter De Bruin from Holland said he was on holiday in Thailand and staying at the Royal Hotel, close to Sanam Luang. He was surprised when he saw a big crowd of people in black gathering at Sanam Luang.

"I knew that a princess had passed away, but I did not know that her cremation was yesterday until a reporter asked me for an interview," he said.

At 1pm, mourners were allowed to present sandalwood flowers to the late princess at eight designated sites near the Sanam Luang ceremonial site.

More than 250,000 sandalwood flowers, which were prepared by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration for the public, were given out.

Many temples in Bangkok, excluding the temples near Sanam Luang, were each given 10,000 sandalwood flowers for people to take part in the royal cremation.

People throughout the country also laid sandalwood flowers at recently built crematoriums at temples throughout the country in honour of the princess.