Royal crematorium reaches 95% completion

BANGKOK, Sept 21 (TNA) – The construction of the royal crematorium for the HM late King Bhumibol Adulyadej has reached 95 per cent completion and all works will be finished by Oct 10. HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn will install the top of the nine-tiers funeral pyre on October 18, marking the official end of construction. The interior design and landscape are almost done. Now, the master craftsmen are putting a finishing on fine art works and scaffolds will be removed from the royal pyre on Oct 18, said Deputy Prime Minister General Tanasak Patimapragorn, who oversees the construction of the crematorium. Sculptures of mythical creatures have been gradually installed to decorate the Himapan Forest, part of the imaginary Mount Sumeru, which represents the centre of the universe in Buddhist cosmology. For the surrounding landscape, a Chaipattana aerator that the late King invented to improve water quality was installed in a pond. His “monkey cheek” water retention scheme to tackle flood and drought is demonstrated to represent the late King projects that help raise quality of life of people. The rice filed was constructed in the shape of the Thai number nine in dedication to the late King. (TNA)