USING ART TO HONOR SOMEONE’S PASSING IS HAPPENING IN THAILAND TOO. IT IS A YEAR AFTER THE DEATH OF THE COUNTRY’S KING BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ. THE
COUNTRY HAS SPENT A FULL YEAR IN MOURNING AND ARTISTS HAVE BEEN PREPARING PLENTY OF WORKS TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE KING. NOW, THE COUNTRY IS
GATHERING IN THEIR NATIONAL CAPITAL OF BANGKOK TO SAY THEIR FINAL GOODBYE.
ANNA COREN REPORTS.
ANNA: IT'S A CEREMONY TRULY FIT FOR A KING. A HUGE FUNERAL NOW UNDERWAY WAY IN THAILAND FOR KING BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ, AN EVENT THAT WILL LAST FIVE
DAYS AND SEE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ON THE CAPITAL'S STREETS. THE LATE KING WAS THE WORLD'S LONGEST REIGNING MONARCH AND THE ONLY
KING MOST THAI PEOPLE HAD EVER KNOWN. HE INHERITED THE THRONE IN 1946 AND RULED THE COUNTRY FOR SEVEN DECADES UNTIL HE DIED LAST OCTOBER.
INCREDIBLY POPULAR, HE WAS KNOWN AS THE FATHER OF MODERN THAILAND CREDITED WITH UNIFYING THE COUNTRY AS IT FACED A SUCCESSION OF MILITARY COUPS THE NATIONAL FAREWELL WILL BE THE BIGGEST EVENT MANY IN THAILAND HAVE SEEN IN THEIR LIFETIME.
THE COUNTRY HAS ALREADY SPENT A YEAR IN MOURNING AND MASSES ARE EXPECTED IN BANGKOK ON THURSDAY DECLARED A PUBLIC HOLIDAY TO ALLOW THE NATION TO PAY ITS FINAL RESPECTS. THERE WILL BE A HUGE FUNERAL PYRE, MULTIPLE ROAD PROCESSIONS AND DIGNITARIES FROM MORE THAN 40 COUNTRIES INCLUDING U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY JAMES MATTIS. THE EVENT IS REPORTED TO HAVE COST AROUND 19 MILLION DOLLARS -- A TRULY ROYAL SENDOFF.
Find Out More
Website Article: BBC News, Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej Dead at 88 | Learn about the world’s longest reigning monarch & the royal family.
Website Article: Bangkok Expat Life, Understanding Thai Funeral Customs & Traditions