Rivers and royal barges
via The Nation, 22 July 2019: The next royal barge procession will happen in October in Bangkok.
At the beginning of the lent season in August, Buddhists have a tradition of making merit, called the Kathin ceremony. It is a religious occasion when the devout donate new robes to monks. In the past, communities mostly settled down by the river. The royal barges procession was held for the Royal Kathin Ceremony as well, as a reflection of not only the religious significance but also a depiction of His Majesty the King’s glory.
The first Royal Kathin Ceremony during the reign of King Rama X of the Chakri dynasty will take place on October 24. The event will showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Kingdom of Siam. His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun will travel down the Chao Phraya River in a royal barge procession to present robes to monks as part of the Royal Kathin Ceremony, which will mark a grand finale of his coronation that took place in May.