MAHA SARAKHAM: A large portrait of Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn dominates one end of the open-air enclosure where an elephant known as Plai Ekachai starts his day at a conservation centre in the country’s northeast.
A large portrait of Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn dominates one end of the open-air enclosure where an elephant known as Plai Ekachai starts his day at a conservation centre in the country’s northeast.
“There is no greater merit than to raise such an elephant for the king,” says Thanabadee Promsook, 35, who runs the centre housing nine other regular elephants. They are regarded as a symbol of kingship and treated as deities, mainly due to the mythical white elephant Airavata, or Erawan as Thais call him, who is the vehicle of Indra, king of the Hindu gods.
When his remains were kept at the Grand Palace awaiting a royal cremation, 11 elephants decorated to look like white elephants crouched down before the palace walls in a symbolic gesture to honour the “people’s king”.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Royalist volunteers toil overtime for Thai coronation | The Malaysian InsightThai King Maha Vajiralongkorn's coronation ceremony will take place from May 4 to 6.
Read more »
480 Thai-registered vehicles abuse ICPKANGAR: The Perlis Road Transport Department (RTD) has issued 579 summonses against Thai-registered vehicles between January and March this year, with...
Read more »
Thai national, 19, charged with murdering countryman in SerembanSEREMBAN: A 19-year-old Thai man who works at a restaurant here was charged with murdering another Thai national on Monday (April 29).
Read more »
20 Thai fishermen arrested for trespassing, five trawlers seizedGEORGE TOWN: Malaysian enforcers stopped five Class C fishing trawlers for operating in prohibited zones, less than 15 nautical miles from Tanjung Piandang, Perak.
Read more »
Billionaire who shook up Thai politics defiant as enemies circleThanathorn says the military junta is willing to do anything to stay in power.
Read more »
Netflix signs deal for Thai cave boys rescue miniseriesNetflix will bring the cave rescue ordeal in form of a miniseries on its streaming platform.
Read more »
Royalist volunteers toil overtime for Thai king’s coronationBANGKOK: In baby-blue caps and yellow scout scarves, an army of royal volunteers is sprucing up Thailand before this weekend’s coronation – a projection of unity and loyalty to the unassailable crown in a divided kingdom that remains locked in political crisis.
Read more »
Thai King announces consort to be Queen ahead of coronationBANGKOK: Thailand announced Wednesday that King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s long-time consort had become his fourth wife, bestowed with the title Queen Suth...
Read more »