A prime royal urn to encase the ashes of King Bhumibol Adulyadej will be redesigned to show the highest respect to the late King, according to Deputy Prime Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn.
Gen Tanasak, who chairs the meetings of the committee supervising the construction of the royal crematorium and chariot for the late King, said on Friday the meeting agreed on the redesign of the principal urn.
The new design will be made of gold and will be presented to His Majesty the King for consideration. The designer is Somchai Supaluckampaiporn, the senior artisan of the Office of Traditional Arts at the Fine Arts Department.
The octagonal urn will be encrusted with gemstones. The base of the urn will bear a striking image of a Garuda wrestling with the Naga, which symbolises the highest respect for the late King.
In Hindu mythology, the Garuda serves as the vehicle of the god Vishnu. It was formally adopted as the national emblem by King Rama VI, but has been used as a symbol of royalty in the country for many centuries.
The principal urn is one of six that will house the late King's ashes. The design of the other five urns remain unchanged, according to the deputy premier.
Gen Tanasak, meanwhile, said construction of the royal crematorium at Sanam Luang is half-way complete. The base of the crematorium has been laid and the main pillars have been erected.
On each pillar, a device has been installed to monitor the vibration caused by wind which could compromise the sturdiness of the construction.
The other auxiliary buildings within the funeral ground are also proceeding at a satisfactory pace and are half complete, Gen Tanasak said.
The Fine Arts Department said the statues of deities to be installed in the crematorium were being sculpted with the utmost care and meticulousness. The colours for the statues are being decided and once the sculptures are finished, they will be examined in detail under bright light.
The deputy prime minister said the funeral organising committee chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has presented tentative dates for the royal funeral for His Majesty the King to consider. They are between Oct 26-30.
Maj Gen Thani Chuichai, adviser to the 1st Army Region commander, said part of the area in Sanam Luang where people queue to pay their respects to the late King will be moved back by authorities in preparation for the Royal Ploughing ceremony in the middle of next month.
The construction of the royal crematorium and chariot for the late King. (Video by Apichart Jinakul)
