The Royal Barge Procession
The Royal Barge Procession
A spectacular procession of royal barges will be arranged along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok on Thursday, 12 December 2019, to honor the occasion of the Coronation of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua (Rama X). It will be the first Royal Barge Procession in the present reign.
The Royal Coronation Ceremony consists of three phases: the primary phase, royal coronation phase, and final phase. The Royal Barge Procession will be the final phase in the Coronation of His Majesty the King in 2019. On this occasion, the Government invites the people to attend an audience with Their Majesties the King and Queen, who will travel in the Royal Barge Procession through the city along the Chao Phraya River, from the Wasukri pier to the Ratchaworadit pier.
The Royal Barge Procession is the river journeys of kings since the Sukhothai period. It originated from the ancient naval battle flotilla, when the king led his forces to fight a war.
The procession would also be a manner of showing the glory of the monarch and displaying the loyalty and unity of the fighting forces and the people in general.
The Royal Barge Procession comprises 52 barges, including four major royal barges, namely the Suphannahong, the Anantanakkharat, the Anekkachatphutchong, and the Narai Song Suban King Rama IX. There will be 2,200 oarsmen to row the ceremonial barges.
The Royal Barge Suphannahong
or Golden Swan. was built in the reign of King Rama V and completed in the reign of King Rama VI. The name is derived from the Royal Barge Si Suphannahong built in the reign of King Maha Chakkraphat of the Ayutthaya kingdom.
The Royal Barge Anantanakkharat
or Multi-headed Naga. was built in the reign of King Rama VI. It has an intricate figurehead in the form of a seven-headed naga adorned with golden lacquer and glass ornaments. It is 44.85 meters in length, 2.58 meters at the beam, and 0.87 meters in depth. The hull has a green exterior.
The Royal Barge Anekkachatphutchong
or Innumerable Naga Figures. was built in the reign of King Rama V. It is 45.67 meters in length, 2.91 meters at the beam, and 0.91 meters in depth. The bow consists of many small naga-head figurines and the hull has a pink exterior.
The Royal Barge Narai Song Suban, King Rama IX
features the Hindu god Vishnu riding his garuda on the bow. It was built as part of the auspicious occasion of the 50th Anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s Accession to the Throne in 1996. The hull has a bright red exterior. The length of the barge is 44.30 meters and the width at the beam 3.20 meters. The depth of the hull is 1.10 meters.
