The Royal Barges Procession
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The barge Krut Hern Het, "Flying Garuda"
Royal barges procession ThailandKrut Hern HetFlying GarudaKathin Ceremony
The barge Asura Paksi, named after its part-giant part-bird figurehead
Asura Paksi bargeRoyal barges procession ThailandKathin Ceremony
Prow of the royal barge Ananta Naga Raj (or Anantanakkharat): "Ananta, King of the Naga"
Ananta Naga Raj bargeRoyal barges procession ThailandKathin Ceremony
The royal barge Narai Song Suban HM Rama IX was built during the reign of Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX, and was launched on May 6, 1996, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of his ascent to the throne.
Royal barges procession ThailandNarai Song Suban HM Rama IXVishnu and Garuda figureheadKathin Ceremony
The royal barge Suphannahongsa, "Golden Swan," has a crew of 50 oarsmen, two steersmen, a chanter, two officers fore and two aft, a signalman, a standard bearer, and seven bearers of the royal insignia. The onboard pavilion is to accommodate the king and members of the royal family. In the background is Wat Arun, "Temple of the Dawn."
Royal barges procession ThailandSupphanahongsaSupphanahongsa royal bargeKathin Ceremony
Suphannahongsa up close
Royal barges procession ThailandSupphanahongsaSupphanahongsa royal bargeKathin Ceremony
Rama I commissioned the original Suphannahongsa barge upon his ascension to the throne in 1782. A replacement was ordered by Rama VI in 1911. Excluding the figurehead, the entire 150-foot-long vessel, weighing over 15 tons, is made from a single piece of teak.
Royal barges procession ThailandSupphanahongsaSupphanahongsa royal bargeKathin Ceremony
Manned by over 2,000 crew members from the Royal Thai Navy, more than 50 boats take part in the royal barges procession. Music is also a part of the ceremony, as boat songs are chanted by the oarsmen of the barges that accompany the king's barge.
Crew members of the escort boats wear an assortment of colorful uniforms based on their posts. The boat's officer wears a floral-patterned light-blue jacket over dark-blue trousers. Standing next to him in the photo above is a red-clad standard bearer and a bugler dressed in orange. The signalman is at the front of the boat. The steersmen wear gold-patterned green jackets and golden headgear.
The figurehead of the king's barge, Supphanahongsa, in stark contrast to some of the dwellings lining the Chao Phraya River
Royal barges procession ThailandSupphanahongsaSupphanahongsa royal bargeKathin Ceremony
More escort boats
The escort boat in the foreground is the Suea, "tiger barge," one of two such vessels. It sports a highly stylized image of a tiger's head painted on its bow, with stripes on the hull. A small cannon protrudes over the bow, a reminder that historically these vessels were used in warfare as well, though never in a significant way.
Royal barges procession ThailandSuea tiger bargeKathin Ceremony
The temple in the background is Wat Phra Kaeo, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, on the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok.
