Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Ramadan 17, 1445 H
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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Thais bid final goodbye to late King Bhumibol

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BANGKOK: A woman’s 750-km trek to see the late Thai king’s cremation ceremony was only one example of the level of religious devotion on display in Thailand on Thursday. A year of mourning has done nothing to diminish that veneration as Thailand marks a final end to his era with his cremation, uncertain of what is to follow.


“I have walked a long way until all my toe-nails have fallen off,” said 61-year-old Montha Suchit, who set off in mid-September from Nakhon Si Thammarat in southern Thailand.


“This is the least we can do to repay him,” she said as she waited, clad in black like most of Thailand, for King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s funeral procession to pass by.


Thousands spent days camped on torn cardboard boxes to secure a spot near the procession with only plastic sheets for protection from intermittent monsoon rain and tropical sun.


“He was the lifeblood of the nation,” said Sorana Theppanao, 60, who counted himself lucky to have got a place near the procession by sleeping out for three days.


King Bhumibol developed a very personal following with hikes to remote villages and an emphasis on helping the poor despite the royal family’s immense wealth. He cultivated an image of being above coups and protests while intervening in times of crisis.


Some mourners questioned whether the king would have wanted such an ostentatious sendoff, for which $90 million was budgeted.


Upstream of Bangkok, some districts were left flooded after heavy rains so waters could not disrupt the spectacle.


“We all came out to thank the king personally, so in that sense the extravagance was not needed and does not reflect the late king’s attitude,” said 70-year-old Tip Boonmak.


As the procession passed, mourners dropped to their knees, many still holding up mobile phones to record the scene.


“This is the last day we meet him before he goes to heaven,” said Kannika Kamsikeaw, 39.


For foreign visitors, the emotion was hard to comprehend.


“It’s incredible to see this humungous outpouring of devotion,” said 34-year-old Australian Celine Massa. “I don’t feel that emotion for any public figure.” — Reuters


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