First Rehearsal of the Royal Barge Procession for the Coronation of King Rama X
The Royal Thai Navy has started the rehearsals of the Royal Barge Procession for the Coronation of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua (Rama X).
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The four royal barges include the Suphannahong, or Golden Swan, the Anantanakkharat, or Multi-headed Naga, the Anekkachatphutchong, or innumerable Naga figures, and the Narai Song Suban King Rama IX.
A total of 2,200 crew from the Royal Thai Navy manned the 52 barges.
The rehearsal began at 15.00 hr, when all 52 ceremonial barges gathered from the Bank of Thailand area to the Riverside River Hotel near the Krung Thon Bridge.
The barges formed up in five columns. At 15.35 hr, they started to move along the Chao Phraya River toward the Grand Palace, with a total length of about four kilometers. The trip took about 40 minutes.
Most of the present fleet of ceremonial barges for the Royal Barge Procession was constructed in the Rattanakosin period. The Royal Barges – Suphannahong, Anantanakkharat, and Anekkachatphutchong – were reconstructed and repaired, while the Narai Song Suban King Rama IX was constructed during the reign of King Rama IX to celebrate the 50th anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s accession to the throne in 1996.
The next minor rehearsal of the Royal Barge Procession for the Coronation of King Rama X will take place on August 29.
