Post by : Shakul

Thailand’s Ministry of Defence has intensified preparations for the grand Royal Barge Procession that will accompany His Majesty the King during the Kathina robe offering ceremony scheduled for November 6, 2026, at Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchaworamahaviharn in Bangkok. The ceremonial procession is one of Thailand’s most significant royal traditions and reflects the country’s deep cultural and historical heritage.

General Tharaphong Malakham, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, led an official inspection of the preparation process on May 25, 2026. Accompanied by senior defence officials and military representatives, the delegation visited the Royal Barge Section under the Royal Thai Navy Transportation Department in Bangkok Noi district to assess the readiness of personnel, royal barges, and ceremonial operations.

The inspection focused heavily on the training of royal barge oarsmen, which is considered one of the most important aspects of the ceremony. The Royal Thai Navy has already completed training sessions for 58 royal barge captains and 104 helmsmen, who will later act as instructors for rowing teams assigned to different royal barges participating in the procession.

Officials explained that the current stage of preparation involves land-based rowing exercises where oarsmen practice coordination, posture, and rowing rhythm using specially designed training boards. This phase allows participants to become familiar with the weight and movement of ceremonial oars before advancing to practical water-based exercises on rivers and canals throughout Bangkok.

After completing the land-training stage, rowing teams will move into on-water practice sessions where they will develop navigation control, synchronized movement, and formation discipline. Final rehearsals and full dress rehearsals will later take place along the actual river route that will be used during the royal ceremony in November.

During the visit, defence officials also inspected the restoration and maintenance work being carried out on the royal barges and animal-shaped ceremonial boats at the National Museum of Royal Barges. The restoration process was supervised by the Thonburi Naval Dockyard and involved traditional preservation methods that have been used for generations to protect the historic wooden vessels.

Technicians repaired gaps between wooden planks using raw cotton threads before sealing the surfaces with a mixture of resin and turpentine to prevent water leakage and wood decay caused by marine organisms. Following the completion of structural repairs, the barges were transferred to Thailand’s Fine Arts Department, where detailed decorative restoration is currently underway under the supervision of traditional master craftsmen.

The Royal Barge Procession in 2026 will also commemorate the fourth cycle birthday anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit. Thai authorities stated that preparations remain on schedule and emphasized that the event will showcase the country’s royal heritage, naval tradition, craftsmanship, and national unity before both domestic and international audiences.

#Thailand News #Political Affairs #Culture #Royal