Thais attend royal bahting ceremony for late King

BANGKOK, Oct 15 (TNA) -- Thai people lined up at Sala Sahathai Samakhom pavilion inside the Grand Palace on Friday to pour water on King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s image, simulating Thai traditional rite of bathing the body. The Bureau of the Royal Household held the ceremony allowing the general public to perform the rite from 8.30am to 2pm on Friday. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha and his wife along with senior government officials took part in the ceremony. US Ambassador Glynn T Davies was among the mourners performing the traditional rite. They formed a long line to take the opportunity to pay respect to the King -- a way for the masses to simulate the symbolic royal bathing of the King's body. A royal funeral will be held at the Grand Palace. To many, it was an important moment of their lives to show their love and respect to the King whose reign spanned seven decades. (TNA)