Bangkok, 29 April 2019 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand is pleased to share the programme of the Royal Coronation of King Rama X, based on the information provided by the Foreign Office, The Government Public Relations Department.
The Royal Coronation of King Rama X comprises five historic events; 1) the preparation of sacred water for the Royal Coronation Ceremony; 2) the inscription of the Royal Golden Plaques and engraving the Royal Seal of State; 3) the three-day Royal Coronation Ceremony; 4) the Royal Land Procession; and 5) the Royal Barge Procession.
- The Preparation of sacred water for the Royal Coronation Ceremony
The earliest process in the preparation of the Royal Coronation Ceremony is to collect waters from different important sources and then consecrate and combine them for use in the Royal Purification and Anointment Ceremonies during the Royal Coronation Ceremony.
6 April 2019: The gathering of waters to be blessed and used for the sacred water in the Royal Coronation Ceremony takes place in all 76 provinces.
8-9 April 2019: Consecration rites for the collected waters are organized at major temples in respective provinces.
10-11 April 2019: The waters are transferred to the Ministry of Interior in Bangkok.
12 April 2019, 13.00-14.09 hr: The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration performs a water consecration rite at Ho Sattrakhom in the Grand Palace and transfers the consecrated water to the Ministry of Interior to combine it with waters from the provinces.
18 April 2019, 17.30 hr: The waters from 76 provinces and Bangkok are combined and taken from the Ministry of Interior to go through another consecration rite at Wat Suthat, one of Bangkok’s oldest and most important temples.
19 April 2019, 07.30 hr: The sacred water is taken in a procession from Wat Suthat to be kept at the ubosot of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
- The inscription of the Royal Golden Plaques and engraving the Royal Seal of State
The ceremony of making an inscription on the Royal Golden Plaque of the official title of the King and on the Royal Golden Plaque of the King’s horoscope, as well as the engraving of the Royal Seal of State, are important processes in the preparation for the Royal Coronation Ceremony. This takes place inside the ubosot of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
22 April 2019, 16.00 hr: Ten monks chant prayers at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha on the day before the designated day of the inscription ceremony.
23 April 2019, 08.19-11.35 hr: A ceremony is held at the ubosot of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha to make an inscription on the Royal Golden Plaque of the official title of His Majesty the King, and the Royal Golden Plaque of His Majesty’s horoscope, as well as the engraving of the Royal Seal of State. On this occasion, the inscription of the Royal Golden Plaques, with the official titles of members of the Royal Family, is also made.
2 May 2019, 16.09-20.30 hr: His Majesty the King pays homage to the Equestrian Statue of King Chulalongkorn at the Royal Plaza and the Memorial of King Rama I at the foot of Memorial Bridge. He also worships sacred beings at Baisal Daksin Throne Hall and Chakrabat Biman Royal Residence.
3 May 2019, 10.00 hr: The Royal Golden Plaque of the official title of His Majesty the King, the Royal Golden Plaque of His Majesty’s horoscope, and the Royal Seal of State are transferred from the Temple of the Emerald Buddha to Baisal Daksin Throne Hall.
The most important process of the Royal Coronation Ceremony takes place on 4 May 2019, marking the Coronation Day of King Rama X.
- The three-day Royal Coronation Ceremony
4 May 2019
10.09-12.00 hr: The Royal Purification, or the “Song Muratha Bhisek” Ceremony, takes place at Chakrabat Biman Royal Residence. “Muratha Bhisek” refers to the action of pouring holy water over the head of the king, also known as ablution. It is followed by the Anointment Ceremony at Baisal Daksin Throne Hall. Then His Majesty the King proceeds to the Bhadrapitha Throne and sits under the Royal Nine-tiered Umbrella, where the Chief Brahmin presents him with the Royal Golden Plaque of His Majesty’s official title, the Royal Regalia, the Ancient and Auspicious Orders, and the Weapons of Sovereignty. After the Crowning and Investiture Ceremony, His Majesty presents the First Royal Command.
14.00 hr: His Majesty the King grants a grand audience to members of the Royal Family, the Privy Council, and the Cabinet, as well as senior officials, gathered to offer their best wishes to His Majesty at Amarindra Vinicchaya Throne Hall.
16.00 hr: His Majesty proceeds to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha to proclaim himself the Royal Patron of Buddhism.
13.19-20.30 hr: The ceremony of Assumption of the Royal Residence takes place at Chakrabat Biman Royal Residence. The purpose of the ceremony is to symbolically take up the royal residence and perform housewarming.
5 May 2019
09.00 hr: The ceremony to bestow His Majesty’s Royal Cypher and Royal Title and to grant the royal ranks to members of royalty takes place at Amarindra Vinicchaya Throne Hall.
16.30 hr: His Majesty the King rides in the Royal Palanquin in the Royal Procession on Land to encircle the city, affording people the opportunity to attend and pay homage to their new King.
4) The Royal Land Procession
The Routes of the Royal Land Procession is from the Grand Palace, the procession comes out from Abhorn Bimok Pavilion through Vises Jayasri Gate. It turns right to Na Phra Lan Road, turns left to Ratchadamnoen Nai Road, turns right to Ratchadamnoen Klang Road, and then turns left to Tanao Road before moving toward Wat Bovoranives. The Royal Palanquin stops in front of Wat Bovoranives, where His Majesty the King enters to pay homage to the main Buddha image in the ubosot.
The procession continues to move along Phra Sumen Road and turns right to Ratchadamnoen Road, passing through the Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall. Then it turns left to Atsadang Road and Bamrung Mueang Road. The Royal Palanquin stops in front of Wat Rajabopidh, where His Majesty enters to pay homage to the main Buddha image in the ubosot.
The procession leaves Wat Rajabopidh, passing through Fueang Nakhon Road, and then turns right to Charoen Krung Road. The Royal Palanquin stops in front of Wat Phra Chetuphon, where His Majesty enters to pay homage to the main Buddha image in the ubosot.
The procession with His Majesty riding in the Royal Palanquin leaves Wat Phra Chetuphon along Thai Wang Road, moving back to the Grand Palace. It enters Vises Jayasri Gate to Abhorn Bimok Pavilion.
6 May 2019
16.30 hr: His Majesty the King grants a public audience on a balcony of Suddhaisavarya Prasad Hall in the Grand Palace to receive the good wishes of the people.
17.30 hr: His Majesty grants an audience to members of the international diplomatic corps, who offer their felicitations on this special occasion at Chakri Maha Prasad Throne Hall.
5) The Royal Barge Procession
October 2019
The final procedure of the Coronation of King Rama X is the Royal Barge Procession, to be held in October 2019. The procession begins at the Wasukri pier at 16.00 hr, when His Majesty the King travels along the Chao Phraya River to Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) on the occasion of presenting robes to Buddhist monks (Royal Kathin Ceremony). About 2,300 oarsmen will be prepared to row over 50 barges to be arranged into five groupings, from the Wasukri pier to Wat Arun, with a total length of four kilometers. Rhythmic barge-rowing songs are part of this ceremonial water-borne procession, which is a rare spectacle, arranged on special occasions only.
The royal processions, both by land and by water, exhibit the glory and great power of the monarch, in accordance with the traditional beliefs and court traditions handed down through generations. They also mark the conclusion of the Royal Coronation Ceremony, which is considered one of the most important events for all Thai kings.
Source: Foreign Office, The Government Public Relations Department
