Since the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Aduyadej on October 13 in the 89th year of his life, loyal subjects across the country have thronged the Phra Mane Ground (Sanam Luang), a park adjacent to the Grand Palace, where the royal urn rests and royal and religious rites are taking place in tribute to the monarch.
At least 50,000 black-clad mourners have poured into Sanam Luang each day since the King’s passing, according to Maj-General Pongsawat Panchit, deputy commander of the First Region Army, which is responsible for security in the area.
Maintaining a calm and orderly atmosphere among such huge crowds is a challenge.
The social media is abuzz with complaints that not everyone is respecting the mourning period at Sanam Luang. Dismayed netizens say the sombre mood is being turned into a festive atmosphere. They complain about people taking selfies rather than paying respects to His Majesty, posing for the camera while they prostrate at the Grand Palace wall. The pictures and similar inappropriate posts are being shared on sites like Facebook, and street vendors shouting out their wares is increasing the carnival-like atmosphere, say critics.
But the negative perceptions are outweighed by the overwhelmingly positive feelings at Sanam Luang.
The criticisms are minor when you consider the bigger picture: Mourners in their hundreds of thousands sharing their sorrow, sometimes pausing to comfort one another with smiles of support.
I can see and feel love and sympathy everywhere I turn at the scene.
The crowds here can also feel the caring that exists between siblings. Photos released by the Royal Household Bureau show His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn comforting his elder sister Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya at the funeral rites for their father in the Grand Palace. Another shot shows him comforting his younger sister, Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn.
We saw, too, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn give a “wai” to her elder sister Princess Ubolratana as they were about to leave the funeral rites.
We can also feel the love and concern directed by the Royal Family towards loyal subjects. HRH the Crown Prince last Friday graciously provided free food via his royal guards to people who showed up in huge numbers at the Grand Palace to mourn the passing of his much-loved father.
During the day, Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali fried chicken at a Princess Pa Foundation food truck as free food for mourners at Sanam Luang.
The nighttime saw Princess Ubolratana emerge from the Grand Palace to greet the crowds outside, addressing them with a very touching speech that has since gone viral after being shared on social media.
“We are all from the same family. He [the King] is my father and also everyone’s father. … Next we must work together, move forward and not backwards,” the Princess told the crowd last Monday night.
She also distributed food, ranging from grilled pork with sticky rice to Chinese buns, and other necessities to the people.
The atmosphere of sharing and harmony has grown, fed by stories and photos, sympathy and generosity, shared among fellow citizens as they help each other through this time of grief and loss.
From the public sector to private companies to individual volunteers, ordinary people and students – Good Samaritans are helping without being asked to do so.
A friend of mine who joined more than 200,000 people in a heartfelt rendition of the Royal Anthem at Sanam Luang last Saturday offered a touching description on Facebook:
“I met good people at Sanam Luang,” he began.
“Yesterday I joined the singing. I came with nothing but my heart full of love for the King. I stayed there all day and night. I saw police ease the heat by spraying the crowd with water. I saw students help collect the garbage. People handed out black ribbons, desserts, foods… . Some helped push the elderly in wheelchairs.”
“Even at night [when candle-lit singing of the Royal Anthem rang out again] people shared candles and space for others to stand. When the ceremony ended many took transport services offered for free.”
“I felt the loving care and respect in their good deeds on the day. They sacrificed and followed the King’s teaching of ‘giving’. If the King were looking down to see how united and caring his children are, I believe he would smile happily. Thank you again.”
Last but not least, we can see and feel the loving tribute to the King.
The scene outside the Grand Palace demonstrated to the world the depth of feeling among Thais for their King and father of the nation.
Defying the heat and the rain, mourners queued in their tens of thousands at Sanam Luang to pay their respects. No words were needed; the scene was captured in pictures that revealed instantly the place His Majesty holds in Thai hearts.
When a loved one passes away, the feelings of loss reunite us as a family. But I would ask, why do we have to wait for such a terrible loss before we unite and love each other?