Princess galyani vadhana funeral songs
•
•
Thai royal funeral
Thai royal funerals are elaborate events, organised as royal ceremonies akin to state funerals. They are held for deceased members of the royal family, and consist of numerous rituals which typically span several months to over a year. Featuring a mixture of Buddhist and animist beliefs, as well as Hindu symbolism, these rituals include the initial rites that take place after death, a lengthy period of lying-in-state, during which Buddhist ceremonies take place, and a final cremation ceremony. For the highest-ranking royalty, the cremation ceremonies are grand public spectacles, featuring the pageantry of large funeral processions and ornate purpose-built funeral pyres or temporary crematoria known as merumat or men. The practices date to at least the 17th century, during the time of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Today, the cremation ceremonies are held in the royal field of Sanam Luang in the historic centre of Bangkok.
Overview
[edit]The main components of a royal funeral do not differ much from regular Thai funerals, which are based on Buddhist beliefs mixed with local animist traditions. Hindu symbolism, a long-standing feature of the monarchy, is also featured prominently. A bathing ceremony is held shortly after death, followed by the ritual
•
Sad, melancholic rhythms
Since Oct 14, one day after the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the sounds of conch shells, bugles, pipes and drum beats, followed by the melancholic tones of classical music, have been heard from the Grand Palace six times a day. Each session lasts about 15 minutes and often makes many mourners nationwide burst into tears. This royal tradition is called prakhom yumyam.
"Prakhom is a way to honour and pay respect to royals and is also a tradition," said Anek Artmangkorn, acting director of the Fine Arts Department's Office of Performing Art.
Prakhom music is played together with the Royal Household Bureau's yumyam band. The yumyam tradition has been continually performed since the Ayutthaya Period and was added to the piphart band in the reign of King Rama V, he added.
The office deploys each of its five bands of musicians to perform at the royal funeral of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej every day on rotation. All the musicians will continue to work from 6am-9pm every day until the royal funeral reaches its th day. Each session starts at 6am, 9am, noon, 3pm and 9pm. Prakhom yumyam was played at previous royal funerals, starting with Her Majesty Queen Rambhai Barni of King Rama VII in to that of the Princess Mother, HRH Princess