Receiving the Royal Patent and Ceremonial Fan of Ecclesiastical Rank, and the Celebratory Procession for Phra Samut Wachirasophon Vi., B.E. 2567
Date
28 July 2024
A photo record of the day on which Phra Samut Wachirasophon Vi. (Itthi Bhaddacaro) received his royal patent and ceremonial fan of ecclesiastical rank at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in the Grand Palace, and of the celebratory procession back to Wat Chulamanee — Sunday 28 July B.E. 2567 (2024).
The conferral of the royal patent and ceremonial fan of ecclesiastical rank upon Phra Samut Wachirasophon Vi. (Itthi Bhaddacaro), abbot of Wat Chulamanee, fell on Sunday 28 July B.E. 2567 (2024), the birthday anniversary of His Majesty the King. The royal ceremony was held at Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, in the Grand Palace.
The first part of the set records the arrival and the wait in the cloister before the ceremony, followed by scenes after it, in which the monks who had received ecclesiastical rank came out holding their ceremonial fans and patents to be photographed in front of the ubosot, together with the royally bestowed sets of robes.
The evening photographs follow the celebratory procession through Amphawa District: from the assembly point, where the certificates of monastic office in gilded frames, the accompanying ceremonial fans and the robes were set on tiered trays before the royal portrait; through the lion and dragon troupes, the Chinese percussion troupe and the marching band; the flower float tiered with ceremonial umbrellas and bearing the emblem of the 6th cycle birthday celebrations; and on to the moment the procession entered Wat Chulamanee.
At the temple the royal patent was enshrined upon a gilded pavilion, homage was paid before the royal portrait, the monks chanted blessings, requisites were offered and merit was dedicated. There followed the offering of congratulations by monks, officials and lay devotees, who queued in a long line past midnight.