Photos show elaborate preparations for Thailand’s Royal Barges Procession

Summary

More than 2,000 oarsmen have spent months preparing for a centuries-old Thai royal tradition that will fill Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River with a fleet of intricately decorated barges on Friday. The Royal Barge Procession is held in time for the annual Buddhist Kathin ceremony, which takes place after the end of Buddhist Lent. Buddhists offer kathin robes to monks who have remained in their monasteries throughout the three-month retreat in the rainy season. The fleet, consisting of a total of 52 barges, will take King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Queen Suthida and members of the royal family to the Wat…

Description from ABC News (US).