First rehearsal of royal cremation procession held today

BANGKOK, Oct 7 (TNA) - Thousands of Thais and foreigners watched the first rehearsal of the elaborate processions for the royal cremation ceremony of HM the late King Bhumibol at Sanam Luang ceremonial ground on Saturday. Thirteen major roads in the capital are closed to traffic today for the first rehearsal. The other two rehearsals will be conducted on October 15 and 21. Participants in the rehearsal of the royal cremation processions started marching at 8.00 a.m. from the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall inside the Grand Palace. It took them about half-an-hour to march to Wat Phra Chetuphon. In the second elaborate procession, Phra Maha Phichai Ratcharot, or the Great Victory Royal Chariot, carried the Royal Urn to the ceremonial ground. In the last procession, the Royal Gun-carriage, or Rajarot Puen Yai is used to carry the Royal Urn on three counter-clockwise rounds of the Royal Crematorium. More than 2,000 security guards have been deployed to Sanam Luang to ensure that the rehearsal ceremony is completed successfully. Watchers are required to wear polite black clothes and must also carry their identification cards to pass screening points. The actual Royal Cremation takes place on October 26, which has been announced by the government as a national public holiday. (TNA)