Funeral Pyre Design Finished for the Funeral of Thai Princess Galyani

According to Thai television, the design for the funeral pyre for Princess Galyani Vadhana of Thailand has been completed and is ready to be submitted by the Thailand Culture Ministry. A government committee set up for this purpose will review the design, which was designed by Group Captain Aryuth Ngernchuklin, a national artist from Thailand. If the design is acceptable, it will then be submitted to the King of Thailand for approval. The Princess died on Wednesday January 2^nd, 2008 at the age of 84. She will be cremated on a day chosen by the King after the 100 days of mourning is completed.

Princess Galyani, who was the King of Thailand's sister, is currently lying in state in Bangkok at the Grand Palace and will remain there during the 100 days of mourning, as the King of Thailand requested. The Grand Palace is open to the public every day, so that they can pay their respects. Thousands of Thais have already done so with many thousands more expected in the coming months. All over Thailand, at shopping malls and government buildings, there are also condolence books that can be signed by the general public.

Meanwhile, the Thailand Fine Arts Department has asked for a budget of $200 million baht (almost US $6 million) to construct buildings for the royal cremation. They have worked on a design that is based on old Thai traditions of the three worlds - earth, heaven and hell. There will be several structures built, including entertainment halls and pavilions. The construction of the buildings is expected to take 3 to 4 months. Construction will not begin however until the King has approved the designs.

Royal chariots will also be used for the funeral ceremony and one of them will carry the urn that holds the Princesses ashes, once the cremation has taken place. A chariot which was built in the reign of King Rama I, (1782-1809), the Wechayanratcharot chariot, will probably be the chariot used to carry the urn. The royal funeral processions are some of the most beautiful events ever to be held in Thailand, as many traditional Thai chariots will be used in the procession.