As from yesterday, people will also be able to pay homage to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej before his portrait at the Sahathai Samakhom Hall between 8.30am and 4pm.

People can also bring wreaths after the royal prayer ritual is concluded, while the rest of the Palace and Emerald Buddha Temple will remain closed until October 20.

Mourners from all over the country headed to Bangkok to pay homage to the late King, with long lines forming inside the Grand Palace compound.

Mek Chaithep, a 49-year-old police senior sergeant major, along with a seller, prepared 400 meal boxes and 400 glasses of fresh water to provide to some of the growing throng. “I feel grateful for the King’s kindness, which is indescribable,” he said.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered more free bus services for mourners on the routes passing the Grand Palace, Government Spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said yesterday.

During the mourning period, entertainment venues will be permitted to open as normal. However, they should operate indoors and not too loudly, the spokesman said. Restaurants and cinemas can also operate as usual.

Sansern said organisers of concerts and entertainment events would initially have to ask for permission to stage their productions during the 30-day period.

According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, some events such as concerts, musicals and festivals have been postponed. These include the Bangkok Street Show 2016, a concert by the band ModernDog, an ETC music concert, and the OTOP SME Excellence Fair.

Meanwhile, all provinces have been asked to perform prayer rituals for the late King, while a nationwide 30-day ban on gambling came into effect on Friday, according to a statement signed by the Minister of Interior Krissada Boonrat to governors across the country.

Local government agencies were expected to facilitate people wishing to join the praying rituals, said the statement.

Exhibitions regarding the King’s royal duties would also be held, it added.

The statement came after the Bureau of Royal Household announced that the royal praying rituals would be performed at the Grand Palace for 100 days.

Meanwhile, as people rush to snap up black shirts and dresses to wear as a mark of respect for the late King, Sansern said the Ministry of Commerce was inspecting prices to prevent overcharging.