Nation bids farewell to Supreme Patriarch (Updated)

Thousands of people flocked to Wat Debsirindrawas and other temples around the country on Wednesday night to pay their last respects to the late Supreme Patriarch.

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Updated 21:30 by our online reporters

Thousands of people flocked to Wat Debsirindrawas and other temples around the country on Wednesday night to pay their last respects to the late Supreme Patriarch.

The main ceremony, which was royally sponsored, was held at Wat Debsirindrawas, while other temples in every province also organised events.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn chaired the ceremony at Wat Debsirindrawas which was also attended by other royal family members.

Wat Devasangaram, where the late Supreme Patriarch was ordained, was long prepared for the cremation ceremony with people from all walks of life in Kanchanaburi attending the event throughout the day. They included the nieces of the late monk.

Tens of thousands formed a long line at Wat Devasangaram to lay floral tributes.

Updated: 16:30

The cremation ceremony, presided over by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, has now begun.

For 34 large photographs of this morning's procession, you can click here: http://www.bangkokpost.com/photo/photo/796444/kingdom-farewells-late-supreme-patriarch

Updated: 11:15am

Supreme Patriarch's body moved to crematorium

ONLINE REPORTERS

The body of the former Supreme Patriarch, Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, was carried on a royal chariot in a procession from Wat Bowon Niwet Vihara to Wat Debsirindrawas, where he will be cremated on Wednesday afternoon.

The procession, which was telecast live on television, started moving from Wat Bowon Niwet Vihara  about 8.15am.  It travelled along Phra Sumen Road, Lan Luang Road, Krung Kasem Road and Thanon Luang Road.

The procession arrived at the crematorium about 10am.

The 3.38km route and 20 other roads connected to it were closed to traffic from 6am to noon and from 2pm to 10pm.

Crowds of people were seen lining up along both sides of the roads on which the procession was passing.

The Metropolitan Police traffic control centre reported that traffic in the vicinity was light and there were no reports of any traffic problems.

At 4.30pm, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn will preside over the cremation ceremony on behalf of His Majesty the King.

Early morning story

Nation to bid farewell to Supreme Patriarch today

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to bid a final farewell to the late Supreme Patriarch in a royally-sponsored cremation ceremony today.

Sangha leaders and representatives of Buddhist communities from 13 countries have arrived in Thailand to attend the cremation rites.

His Holiness's body will be moved on a royal chariot in a procession from Wat Bowon Niwet Vihara to Wat Debsirindrawas where his cremation will be held.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn will preside over the cremation ceremony today on behalf of His Majesty the King.

The procession will pass along Phra Sumen Road, Lan Luang Road, Krung Kasem Road and Thanon Luang Road. The 3.38km route and 20 other roads connected to it will be closed to traffic from 6am to noon and from 2pm to 10pm.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has prepared some 200,000 dok mai chan, or paper flowers used in cremation rites, for people to place at pavilions set up at  Wat Bowon Niwet Vihara and Wat Debsirindrawas.

Other temples in Bangkok's 46 districts have also prepared 10,000 dok mai chan each.

National police chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda yesterday said more than 3,000 police officers will be deployed to ensure security as huge throngs of people are expected to line the streets to watch the procession.

Tomorrow, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkornwill preside over the ceremony to collect the Supreme Patriarch's remains, which will be returned to Wat Bowon Niwet Vihara for merit-making ceremonies.

A relic ceremony will be held on Saturday followed by another in which the casket containing the ashes will be transferred to Phra Wiharn Keng inside Wat Bowon Niwet Vihara where they will be kept permanently.

Phra Sakayawongwisut, assistant abbot of Wat Bowon Niwet Vihara, said the public will be allowed to pay their respects to His Holiness's relics at the temple following the ceremonies.

His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch, Somdet Phra Nyana Samvara Somdet Phra Sangharaja died on Oct 24, 2013, at Chulalongkorn Hospital. He was 100 years old.

His Holiness was appointed by His Majesty the King as the head of the Buddhist clergy in 1989.

He was the 19th Supreme Patriarch since the beginning of the Chakri Dynasty. After having been in office for 24 years, His Holiness was the longest-serving Supreme Patriarch.

His Holiness was born on Oct 3, 1913, in Kanchanaburi province. His birth name was Charoen Gajavatra.

At 14, he was ordained as a novice at Wat Devasangaram in Kanchanaburi before pursuing further Buddhist studies and the Pali language at Wat Bowon Niwet Vihara in Bangkok.

At 43, the monk  was assigned by the Supreme Patriarch at the time to take care of and give advice to His Majesty the King who was ordained as a monk in 1956.

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