People join royally-sponsored cremation for Thailand's late Supreme Patriarch

BANGKOK, December 16 (TNA) - People from all walks of life, both locally and abroad, have wholeheartedly laid down funeral flowers for the royally-sponsored cremation of Thailand's late Supreme Patriarch, symbolising their last respect to the country's late Buddhist monk chief, Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara. Accompanied by Members of the Royal Family, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn presided over the royally-sponsored cremation for Thailand's 19th late Supreme Patriarch of the present Rattanakosin Era, held at the Thep Sirintharawat Temple in Bangkok on Wednesday evening. Earlier in the day, the funeral parade of the late Supreme Patriarch, which started from the Bowon Niwet Vihara Temple and ended at the Thep Sirintharawat Temple, was graciously organised to perfectly fit the honour of the late and revered Supreme Patriarch. A large crowd of people joined in the parade by walking throughout the whole distance to participate in delivering the late Supreme Patriarch to his destination for the last time. Over 1,000 police officers were deployed along the entire route to provide public security service. Meanwhile, authorities prepared 50,000 funeral flowers and 50,000 biography of the past 19 Thai Supreme Patriarchs to present to people joining in the royally-sponsored cremation for Thailand's 19th late Supreme Patriarch on December 16. Some people brought their own funeral flowers to be laid down at booths set up to receive them, while charity boxes were also provided for voluntary public donations for the Supreme Patriarch Foundation to pay tribute to Thailand's late Buddhist monk chief. Thailand's 19th late Supreme Patriarch, Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, who had resided at the Bowon Niwet Vihara Temple, passed away on October 24, 2013 at Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok at the age of 100, after taking his Supreme Patriarchship for a quarter of century, during which he was the preceptor of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn during the royal monkhoods. (TNA)