Royal Barge Procession
The Royal Barge Procession takes place rarely, marking only the most significant cultural and religious events.
In the 11th century, the Thai chronicle, Phraratchaphongsawadan Nuea (Royal Chronicle of the North), recorded the royal barge procession of Prince Sai Nam Peung,[2] a pre-Ayudhya king of Siam[3] who had set the barge and landed at the cape of Wat Pak Klong temple.
[5] In the reign of King Ram Khamhaeng the royal barge procession was performed at Loy Krathong ceremony.
[6] The Ram Khamhaeng Inscription (RK) 1292 AD reads:– after which he watched and listened to people, men and women, sing and play...
Since Ayutthaya Kingdom in the 14th century, strategic waterways and water transportation became more important to the Siamese people, according to the Safine-ye Solaymani mentioned variant of Shahr-i Nāv[8]: 47 or Shahr-i Nau[8]: 47 (Persian: شهر نو),[9] literally "City of Boats, Canals"[8]: 47 with reference to Ayutthaya Kingdom.
The Ribadeneira’s archive described the royal barge procession of King Maha Thammarachathirat in Spanish:– Y para repreſentar la mageſtad de la venida del rey, venieron delante del quatro barcos grandes, en que venían muchos hombres, tañendo unas trompetas de plata pequeñas.
In 1594–98, King Naresuan performed the royal barge procession before leading his 120,000 battalions to attack the Burmese Hanthawaddy Kingdom.
When the moment was auspicious, the royal astrologer then ordered vassals to beat the drum for the oarsmen and sailed the royal barge Sri Suphannahong ahead, on which the barge installed a golden Gautama Buddha containing the holy relics of the Lord Buddha, Phra Phichai, to lead the procession for good fortune.
[13] Nicolas Gervaise, a French missionary and member of the French diplomatic corps, described the procession:– Unmatched in beauty by any naval spectacle, the procession consisting of over two hundred boats, is led by the Royal Barge manned by oarsmen themselves seated in a double row and distinguished by the red bands on their tunic sleeves.
J’ay déjà dit que le corps d’un Balon n’eſt que d’un ſeul arbre long quelquefois de 16. à 20. toiles.
Elle n’eſt point attachée au bord du balon, & celuy, qui la manie, regarde où il va ; au lieu que celuy qui ramel a le dos tourné à la route.
European visitors witnessed and wrote about "an immense procession with 200 boats" upon their arrival in Thailand in the 17th century; one witness was Pierre Brigot, bishop of Tabraca Vicar Apostolic in Siam; later, it was collected in the book History of the Kingdom of Siam (1770) compiled by François Henri Turpin:– It is impossible to compare the beauty of the immense procession with 200 boats.
All oarsmen have been trained to an admirable proficiency, dressed uniformly in gold- trimmed hats, tunic, knee and arm bands.
The oars also of gold, touch the water with a sound that harmonizes with the boat song sung in praise of the King[16]During the processions, the oarsmen were kept in rhythm by the beating of drums, with accompanying music.
Chao Phaya Chakri succeeded King Taksin and moved the capital to the east side of the river to what is now known as Bangkok.
In 1870, Anna H. Leonowens, the teacher to the children of the Siamese, wrote of the Royal Barge Procession of Ananta Nakkharat boat on her own distinct perspective and experience in the heart of an Asiatic court in the reign of King Rama V. Her work was published in the English Governess at the Siamese Court—the forbidden resale book in Siam.
:– The royal state barge, one hundred cubits long, beside being elaborately carved, and inlaid with bits of crystal, porcelain, mother-of-pearl, and jade, is richly enamelled and gilt.
The stem, which rises ten or eleven feet from the bows, represents the nagha mustakha sapta, the sevenheaded serpent or alligator.
This formation is used for the more significant events, such as the Royal Kathin Ceremony, the movement of a sacred image of Buddha, or important occasions of state.
The names of the four royal barges are composed in a consistent rhyme: "Suphannahong", "Narai Song Suban", "Anantanakkharat" and "Anekkachatphuchong".
The royal barge's arrangement in the procession would have "Anantanakkharat" leading, with the "Suphannahong", "Narai Song Suban" and "Anekkachatphuchong" following respectively.
The barges with figureheads have rowers dressed in decorated purple uniforms with pink trousers and red ancient-style helmets with a tall crown and wide brim.
The oarsmen on the Ekachai class are dressed in white uniforms with pink trousers and small red headgear with havelocks.
They can be differentiated as follows: The present fleet of barges was restored during the reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, as some had suffered damage in bombing raids on Bangkok during World War II.
