People from all walks of life thronged Sanam Sua Pa in Bangkok on Saturday, the second day of registration for volunteers during the royal cremation ceremony of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in October.
The registration started on Sept 1 and runs through Sept 30 from 8am to 4pm every day in Bangkok and the provinces across the country.
In Bangkok, a huge crowd arrived at the Bureau of the Royal Household at Sanam Sua Pa early Saturday. Officials at the BRH opened the gate to give them queue tickets at 5.30am before the start of the registration at the reception building at 8am.
As many people keep coming on Saturday, the BRH decided to double the number of volunteers to be recruited to 5,000.
There are eight types of jobs for them: dok mai chan (funeral cremation flowers), public relations, public work, transport service, public service, healthcare service, security work and traffic service. Each volunteer can choose only one job.
All registered volunteers under 17 years old will each be presented a special piggy bank as a souvenir from His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun.
Applicants are required to show ID cards when applying at Sanam Sua Pa and all 50 district offices in Bangkok. For the provinces, they can register at all district offices. Children under 7 years old need to show birth certificates or home registration documents to officials. Overseas Thais can also apply at Thai embassies or consular offices.
A boy from Nakhon Ratchasima, accompanied by his grandmother, registers as a volunteer for the Oct 25-29 royal funeral ceremony of the late King at Sanam Sua Pa in Bangkok on Friday. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)
