Two hundred mahouts accompanied by 11 caparisoned elephants paid their respects to His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the Grand Palace on Tuesday.
The elephants, trucked from Ayutthaya to the Grand Palace, walked from the nearby Territorial Defence Command to the area in front of the Defence Ministry around 9.50am.
The animals, which were powdered white, and mahouts observed a moment of silence in front of the Grand Palace. The elephants then knelt before a portrait of the late King as their keepers sang the royal anthem Sansoen Phra Barami. Mourners joined in singing the anthem in tribute to the beloved monarch.
The mahouts and the elephants then paid respects to the Pink Elephant Statue at Sanam Luang and gave a performance for mourners waiting to enter the palace.
Laithonglean Meephan, the owner of the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace & Royal Kraal, said the animals were trained to perform in honour of the late King. All mahouts appreciated the King Bhumibol's generosity and help for elephants.
Eleven elephants and 200 mahouts from Ayutthaya pay their respects to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej in front of the Grand Palace on Tuesday morning. (Photo by Krit Phromsakla Na Sakolnakorn)
Elephants and mahouts processioned from the Territorial Defence Command to the Manee Nopparat gate of the Grand Palace to pay their respects to the late King. (Photo by Krit Phromsakla Na Sakolnakorn)
Elephants and mahouts from Ayutthaya arrive at the Territorial Defence Command on Tuesday morning. (Photo by Krit Phromsakla Na Sakolnakorn)
