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.
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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.
On Thursday, the Crown Prince will 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 Nyanasamvara Somdet Phra Sangharaja died on Oct 24, 2013, at Chulalongkorn Hospital. He was 100 years old.