Thousands of well-wishers lined the banks of Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River on Sunday to witness King Maha Vajiralongkorn participate in a dazzling royal barge procession in celebration of his 72nd birthday.
A magnificent fleet of 52 ornately decorated boats, paddled by over 2,000 oarsmen dressed in scarlet and gold, escorted the King and Queen Suthida through the heart of the Thai capital to Wat Arun, the ancient Temple of Dawn, for a Buddhist ceremony. The King, revered as semi-divine, boarded the century-old royal barge “Golden Swan” to present robes to monks, marking the end of Buddhist Lent.
Royal barge processions, dating back centuries, are reserved for the most significant occasions, the last being the King’s coronation in 2019. During King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 70-year reign, only 16 such processions took place.
The grand event also included Thailand’s Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana. King Vajiralongkorn, who turned 72 in July, celebrated an important milestone in the 12-year astrological calendar, completing his sixth cycle.
Normally, these intricately ornamented barges with their prows adorned with mythical creatures are kept in a museum. However, on special occasions, navy oarsmen in traditional attire row them to the rhythm of drums, their golden paddles breaking the water in perfect synchrony.
Of the fleet, only four are deemed “royal” while the others serve as royal escort vessels. This tradition dates back to Thailand’s Ayutthaya period (1350-1767) and was revived by King Bhumibol in 1957 to celebrate the 25th century of the Buddhist era.
