Thai king Bhumibol Adulyadej set for five-day funeral a year after his death

SOMETHING very big is happening in Thailand’s capital. The vibrant, bustling city has gone quiet ahead of an historic event.

Thai people wearing raincoats and holding umbrellas queue up to take part in the Royal Cremation ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand. Picture: AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit

SOMETHING very big is happening in Bangkok.

The bright, bustling city has gone completely dark. Television channels have been ordered to reduce their colour saturation and to refrain from showing upbeat or entertaining content.

Thousands of people are camped outside the Grand Palace and the mood is sombre. They wear black, as most workers and government citizens have done for the past year.

Monochrome posters have been plastered around the city’s streets, many of which are subdued ahead of a mass shutdown on Thursday afternoon.

It’s all in preparation for the funeral of beloved Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died last year at the age of 88.

The king died on October 13 after a long illness. He is to be cremated in an elaborate Buddhist ceremony on Thursday at the Sanam Luang square as part of a five-day ceremony.

Thousands of volunteers, musicians and performers will be involved in the ceremony while close to 80,000 security personnel will be deployed, according to The Guardian.

People gather, outside the Grand Palace, to pay their respects to Thailand's late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Picture: Getty

A woman holds aloft an image of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej during the final dress rehearsal for his funeral in Bangkok. Picture: AFP

Mourners were equipped with umbrellas and mats as they camped out for the monarch’s funeral, scheduled to start on Wednesday.

Some of the people arrived on Monday night and plan to remain until Sunday, when the five-day funeral program is to conclude with the transfer of the sovereign’s ashes to the Rajabopit and Bowonniwet temples.

About 250,000 to 300,000 people are expected to attend the funeral rites around the square, close to the Grand Palace, amid tight security.

Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, pictured in 2010, died last year at 88. Picture: AP Photo

Photos of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej are projected on electronic billboards. Picture: AP

A bust of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej is displayed in a shop window in Bangkok. Picture: AP

World leaders set to attend the rites include Australia’s Governor-general Sir Peter Cosgrove, Queen Sofia of Spain, Queen Maxima of Netherlands, Queen Silvia of Sweden, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan, Prince Andrew of England Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Japan’s Prince Akishino, and Singapore’s President Halimah.

Australia’s Governor-general Sir Peter Cosgrove will attend the rites. Picture: AAP Image/Keri Megelus

According to Thai authorities, more than 12 million people have visited the mortal remains of the King since they were opened to the public at the Grand Palace after his death on October 13 last year.

The monarch died in a Bangkok hospital after a year of illness, having ruled for seven decades.

His son, Maha Vajiralongkorn, has succeeded to the throne. He received the title “His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun” and will also be known as Rama X.