The government will invite Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn to chair the organizing committee for the coronation ceremony of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn scheduled for May 4-6.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said today that Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam has been assigned by the government to take charge of making preparations and overseeing the organizing of the coronation ceremony to conform with the tradition.

He said that besides the coronation ceremony, there will be many related activities before and after the ceremony.

One important pre-coronation activity is the collection of water from five rivers, collectively called Benjasutthikongkha, and from four traditional ponds in Suphan Buri to be blessed as “holy water” at religious ceremony to be held at major  temples across the country.  The holy water will be used in the coronation ceremony.

The five rivers where water samples will be collected are Phetchaburi river in Tambon Tha Chai, Phetchaburi province; Ratchaburi river in Tambon Daodoeng, Samut Songkhram province; Chao Phraya river in Tambon Bang Kaeo, Ang Thong province, Pasak river in Tambon Tha Rab, Saraburi province; and Bang Pakong river in Tambon Phra Arjarn in Nakhon Nayok province.

The last time Thailand had a coronation ceremony was in May, 1950 for the late King Bhumibol.