BANGKOK, 17 March 2014 His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn on Sunday (March 16) represented His Majesty the King at the ceremony of changing the costume of the Emerald Buddha image, at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in the Grand Palace.
His Royal Highness, accompanied by the Princess Consort, Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasm, arrived at the Temple at 5.18 p.m. to perform the age-old ritual of changing the costume of the Buddha image from the winter season cloak to the summer season attire made of pure gold. The attire includes a diamond studded headdress.
The ceremony was dated back to King Rama I who then built two seasonal costumes for the Emerald Buddha image – one for the summer season and the other for the rainy season. King Rama III had another costume made for the winter season. The Emerald Buddha image is carved from a block of jade in cross-legged sitting posture, in an attitude of meditation. The statue is 66 centimeters high from base to top and has a width of 48.3 centimeters at the lap.
At the Sunday ceremony, after changing the Buddha image’s costume, His Royal Highness sprinkled lustral water on officials who were attending the ceremony inside the ubosoth and then permitted the Brahmin priests to pass consecrated candles known as Waen Wian Thian to members of the Royal Family and ranking officials, which is, according to ancient traditions, a gesture of blessing. After the Wian Thian ceremony, His Royal Highness sprinkled lustral water on people who were waiting outside.
