The Royal Barge Procession will start at Vasukri Pier, near the National Library, and end at the Temple of Dawn. A total of 52 barges will take part in the procession, formed into five contingents. The four most important barges are Suphanahong, Ananta Nakharaj, Narai Songsuban of Rama IX, and Anekachart Phuchong. The entire procession will be 1.2 kilometres long and 90 metres wide, with 2,200 oarsmen. Truly a part of our cultural heritage, the Royal Barge Procession is the only one of its kind in the world.

In the old days, the Royal Barge Procession reflected the military might of the Ayutthaya kings. King Naresuan the Great, in one of his tireless military campaigns, travelled in a procession of royal barges to wage war in Burma's Moulemein. King Narai the Great, who preferred Lop Buri to Ayutthaya as his capital, also travelled in the Royal Barge Procession to visit various outposts in his kingdom. King Narai's Royal Barge Procession came to be known as the "Phetch Phuang Procession".

Other Ayutthaya kings also travelled by royal barge to pay respects to the Buddha's Footprint in Saraburi during the Royal Kathin Ceremony. All Thai children know from their schoolbooks about the tragic yet heroic act of Phanthai Norasingh. Legend has it that during the reign of Phrachao Sua, there was an able captain of the king's barge named Phanthai Norasingh. His job was to stay at the stern of the barge to control the tiller and guide the rhythm of the oarsmen. One day, the barge was travelling on a very treacherous river and the captain could not control it. The bow of the barge struck a tree branch and broke.

Ancient tradition prescribed severe punishment - execution - for a captain who caused damage to the royal barge. In this particular case, Phrachao Sua did not want to punish Phanthai because he understood that the accident was beyond anybody's control. But Phanthai insisted that he be punished in order to maintain tradition. He was executed by beheading.

Later on, the Royal Barge Procession was held largely during royal ceremonies as battles on water had become less significant. During the Rattanakosin Period King Yodfa, or King Rama I, took part in the Royal Barge Procession in the first year of his reign in 1782 when he travelled to Wat Bangwahyai and Wat Hong to attend the Royal Kathin Ceremony.

There have been 14 Royal Barge Processions in the reign of the present King Rama IX. The first was held in 1957 to coincide with 2,500 years of Buddhism. The most recent one was held for visiting heads of state when the Thailand hosted the Asia-Pacific Economic and Cooperation meeting in October 2003. As for the Royal Barge Procession to be held on June 12, His Majesty the King will witness the spectacular sight, along with other kings, queens and royal representatives, from the Royal Navy Building on the Thonburi side of Bangkok.

There will be three rehearsals of the Royal Barge Procession - one today and the other two on Tuesday and Friday next week - before the actual event. The rehearsals offer a good chance to witness the grandeur of the Royal Barge Procession from a choice position along the Chao Phaya River between Vasukri Pier and Wat Arun. It will be more difficult to find a good spot on June 12 because thousands of people will be lining up along the river to watch the spectacle. The world will be sharing Thailand's pride during this and all the other events marking the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne.

Thanong Khanthong

The Nation