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Thai artisans prepare complex for king's funeral

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Thai artisans prepare complex for king's funeral
News

News

Thai artisans prepare complex for king's funeral

2017-10-10 11:22 Last Updated At:11:22

Thai artists and craftsmen are putting the finishing touches on an elaborate crematorium complex ahead of the funeral of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who reigned for 70 years before his death on Oct. 13, 2016.

This Oct. 6, 2017, photo, shows the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

This Oct. 6, 2017, photo, shows the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

This Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, photo, shows the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

This Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, photo, shows the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

The crematorium, situated on a public field near the Grand Palace in Bangkok, is a representation of mystical Mount Meru, where gods reside, according to Buddhist and Hindu legends. The complex features nine golden-spired pavilions and more than 100 sculptures and statues of angels, gods, mythical creatures and former kings.

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This Oct. 6, 2017, photo, shows the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

This Oct. 6, 2017, photo, shows the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

This Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, photo, shows the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

This Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, photo, shows the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Sept. 8, 2017, photo, Thai artists install a royal urn made of sandalwood which will be used in the royal crematorium for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand.(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Sept. 8, 2017, photo, Thai artists install a royal urn made of sandalwood which will be used in the royal crematorium for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand.(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Sept. 8, 2017, photo, Thai artists install a royal urn made of sandalwood which will be used in the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand.  (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Sept. 8, 2017, photo, Thai artists install a royal urn made of sandalwood which will be used in the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand.  (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Sept. 8, 2017, photo, the royal chariot which will be used to carry the body and the royal urn of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is displayed at the National Museum as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Sept. 8, 2017, photo, the royal chariot which will be used to carry the body and the royal urn of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is displayed at the National Museum as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Sept. 4, 2017, photo, an artist decorates elements of the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Sept. 4, 2017, photo, an artist decorates elements of the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Monday, Sept. 4, 2017, photo, an artist sculpts deities and creatures from ancient epics to decorate the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand.  (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Monday, Sept. 4, 2017, photo, an artist sculpts deities and creatures from ancient epics to decorate the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand.  (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Sept. 8, 2017, photo, an artist paints a creature from ancient epics to decorate the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej with the Grand Palace as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand.  (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Sept. 8, 2017, photo, an artist paints a creature from ancient epics to decorate the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej with the Grand Palace as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand.  (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Sept. 8, 2017, photo, an artist sculpts deities and creatures from ancient epics to decorate the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand.  (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Sept. 8, 2017, photo, an artist sculpts deities and creatures from ancient epics to decorate the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand.  (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Sept. 8, 2017, photo, artists sculpt deities and creatures from ancient epics to decorate the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Sept. 8, 2017, photo, artists sculpt deities and creatures from ancient epics to decorate the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Sept. 8, 2017, photo, Thai artists install a royal urn made of sandalwood which will be used in the royal crematorium for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand.(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Sept. 8, 2017, photo, Thai artists install a royal urn made of sandalwood which will be used in the royal crematorium for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand.(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Sept. 8, 2017, photo, Thai artists install a royal urn made of sandalwood which will be used in the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand.  (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Sept. 8, 2017, photo, Thai artists install a royal urn made of sandalwood which will be used in the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand.  (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Bhumibol will be honored in an elaborate royal cremation ceremony from Oct. 25 to 29. The events, which have a budget of 1 billion baht ($30 million), are the culmination of more than a year of official mourning.

The crematorium will be dismantled after the funeral.

In this Sept. 8, 2017, photo, the royal chariot which will be used to carry the body and the royal urn of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is displayed at the National Museum as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Sept. 8, 2017, photo, the royal chariot which will be used to carry the body and the royal urn of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is displayed at the National Museum as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Sept. 4, 2017, photo, an artist decorates elements of the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Sept. 4, 2017, photo, an artist decorates elements of the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Monday, Sept. 4, 2017, photo, an artist sculpts deities and creatures from ancient epics to decorate the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand.  (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Monday, Sept. 4, 2017, photo, an artist sculpts deities and creatures from ancient epics to decorate the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand.  (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Sept. 8, 2017, photo, an artist paints a creature from ancient epics to decorate the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej with the Grand Palace as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand.  (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Sept. 8, 2017, photo, an artist paints a creature from ancient epics to decorate the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej with the Grand Palace as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand.  (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Sept. 8, 2017, photo, an artist sculpts deities and creatures from ancient epics to decorate the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand.  (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Sept. 8, 2017, photo, an artist sculpts deities and creatures from ancient epics to decorate the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej as preparations continue in Bangkok, Thailand.  (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Sept. 8, 2017, photo, artists sculpt deities and creatures from ancient epics to decorate the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

In this Sept. 8, 2017, photo, artists sculpt deities and creatures from ancient epics to decorate the royal crematorium and funeral complex for the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Bangkok, Thailand. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

BANGKOK (AP) — The music spectacle Eurovision is holding its first Asian edition in Bangkok later this year.

The Eurovision Song Contest Asia 2026 has confirmed artists from at least 10 countries across Asia competing: Thailand, South Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. More are expected to join before the finale in November.

“As we mark the 70th anniversary of the Eurovision Song Contest, it feels especially meaningful to open this next chapter with Asia, a region rich in culture, creativity and talent,” Martin Green, the director of the contest, said in the announcement Tuesday.

Bangkok is the perfect city to host the contest because it “has always been a place where cultures come together, where music fills the air, and where celebration is part of everyday life,” said Chuwit Sirivajjakul, a representative of the Thailand Tourism Authority.

The main gala, run by the European Broadcasting Union, draws more than 100 million viewers every year.

This year's main competition with 35 competing countries is scheduled to be held in Vienna in May. Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain are boycotting due to discord over Israel’s participation.

The contest strives to put pop music before politics but has repeatedly been embroiled in world events. Russia was expelled in 2022 after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

It also has been roiled by the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, stirring protests outside the venues and forcing organizers to clamp down on political flag-waving.

Similar tensions could emerge in Asia. Thailand and Cambodia engaged in deadly border clashes twice last year.

FILE - JJ from Austria stands on the stage with the trophy after winning the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

FILE - JJ from Austria stands on the stage with the trophy after winning the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

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