Thai Navy completes months of training for Friday's river parade

More than 2,000 oarsmen from the Royal Thai Navy will row a fleet of 52 barges across Bangkok's Chao Phraya River on Friday. The procession will carry King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Queen Suthida, and members of the royal family to the Wat Arun Ratchawararam temple. The event marks the end of Buddhist Lent and coincides with the annual Kathin ceremony.

Navy personnel began training in June at a dockyard. They practiced rowing in unison before moving to the river in late July. Two full dress rehearsals took place in late October, with spectators lining both banks of the river. The rowers must maintain a formation of five columns and three lines while performing traditional boat songs.

The songs serve a dual purpose. They help coordinate the rowing rhythm and portray Thailand's cultural traditions. The oarsmen spend months mastering these precise movements to keep the large fleet in alignment during the procession.

Thailand's Fine Arts Department has restored the wooden barges for the event. Workers preserved traditional artistic details while conducting safety inspections and decorative updates. Four principal royal barges stand out due to their elaborate designs. One features a golden mythical swan on its prow, while others display the multi-headed Naga serpent or the Hindu deity Narayana.

The Royal Barge Procession is reserved for special royal occasions. This year's event aligns with an auspicious year for Queen Suthida. She turned 48 in June, marking the start of her fourth 12-year cycle. The previous procession occurred in 2024 to commemorate King Maha Vajiralongkorn's 72nd birthday and his sixth 12-year cycle.