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The Royal Barge Procession
ARTICLES, SPEECHES AND OTHER READING
CAVEMAN'S BABBLE
THE ROYAL BARGE PROCESSION
Joined by speakers from:Bangkok, Thailand November 4,
1999.
His Majesty the King of Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej today
presided over the ceremonial presenting of the Annual "Kathin" Robes to the
monks' congregation at Bangkok's Wat Arun Rajavararam (The Temple of Dawn).
The procession was last presented in 1996 on occasion of the King's Fiftieth
Year of accession to the throne.
Featuring 52 exotic paddlecraft, the Royal Barge Procession preceding the
ceremony is one of Asia's most colorful, exotic and reverent spectacles. The
tightly choreographed procession navigated three kilometers of the Chao
Phaya River in the complex 90 meter wide "Major" formation - five rows of
barges stretching 1, 110 meters manned by 2, 082 paddlers, navigators and
officers.
The presentation of the Kathin robes takes place on ok pansa, or the end of
the monsoon season's Buddhist Rains Retreat. The presentation takes place on
wan ok pansa, the first day after the Rains Retreat. The procession began
under overcast skies at 3:30PM from Vassukri Royal Landing and proceeded
traversed the Chao Phaya past Wat Phra Keo (The Temple of the Emerald
Buddha), the Grand Palace and Wat Po, arriving at Wat Arun Landing in under
an hour. The barges returned upriver at dusk, so many of these photos were
shot in extremely low-light conditions
Any Royal Barge procession exemplifies the grandeur and splendor of
traditional Thai arts and culture, but this year's procession was especially
organized for the 72nd Birthday Anniversary of His Majesty the King (the
Sixth 12-year cycle). In addition to the 51 historical Royal Barges, the
formation included the brand new Narai Song Suban, King Rama IX.
The new "Secondary" barge preceded the Suphanahongse with King Bhumibol and
Queen Sirikit and the other "Secondary Barge, the Anekchatbhuchong. The
Anantanagaraj barge followed two rows behind the Suphanahongse, carrying the
Royal Kathin Robes.
Each boat, including the 46-meter Subanahongsa, is formed from a single teak
tree. Of particular interest is the reverence that traditional Buddhists
have for the trees selected for use as a Royal barge. Once selected, prayers
of apology were delivered to the living tree, explanation its future and
status as a Royal barge. Once cut, the tree is considered to be continuing
its life as a boat for royal use.
These telephotos were shot from the Royal Navy Headquarters Pavilion
directly on the Chao Phaya River.
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