Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul inspected royal barge rehearsal preparations on September 3, 2026, boarding a naval vessel at Wasukri Pier to check river currents and the condition of the two main royal barges ahead of the November 6 royal kathin ceremony in Bangkok.
Inspection Tour and River Checks at Wasukri Pier
Government leadership reviewed the unfolding royal barge procession readiness on Wednesday afternoon, September 3, 2026. Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul arrived at Wasukri Pier in Bangkok’s Dusit district to examine the operational framework established by the Royal Thai Navy.
Inside the royal barge hangar, naval commanders briefed the prime minister on the preparation of 2,000 oarsmen assigned to power the historic vessels during the upcoming ceremonies. Following the briefing, the prime minister inspected two principal royal barges: the primary vessel Suphannahong, designated as the royal seat, and Narai Song Suban, which carries the royal kathin robes.
To evaluate on-water conditions firsthand, the prime minister boarded a naval vessel that sailed alongside the formation throughout the route. The inspection run monitored the river currents and structural alignment of the procession before docking at Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn, located in Bangkok’s Bangkok Yai district.
Temple Visit and Auspicious Presentation at Wat Arun
Upon arriving at the riverside temple, the prime minister paid respects at the monument of King Rama II, followed by devotions before the principal Buddha images inside the main ordination hall.
During the temple visit, the deputy abbot of Wat Arun presented the prime minister with an auspicious Garuda-and-Naga artifact. Official reporting noted that the sacred item symbolizes supreme authority over obstacles, personal protection against adversaries, and career advancement. Following the presentation and brief exchanges with members of the public who gathered to take photographs, the prime minister expressed full confidence that the procession and route management would proceed smoothly on the scheduled date.
Royal Kathin Calendar
The current rehearsals support the royal kathin ceremony scheduled for Friday, November 6, 2026, at Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan. This year’s procession marks the auspicious occasion of the royal kathin presentation and celebrates the fourth cycle birthday anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen, which fell on June 3, 2026.
For this specific royal ceremony, the Royal Thai Navy received authorization to compose and prepare an entirely new set of boat-song poetry to accompany the rhythmic oar strokes of the 2,000 oarsmen. The September 3 session operated as a partial rehearsal where personnel trained in standard practice uniforms while navigating the exact formation required for the actual event.
Sub-Rehearsal Schedule Throughout September
The Royal Thai Navy scheduled a comprehensive series of sub-rehearsal sessions across September 2026 to ensure precision among all participating units. The drills build upon earlier training phases conducted through August.
- Thursday, September 3, 2026 (Fourth sub-rehearsal)
- Tuesday, September 8, 2026 (Fifth sub-rehearsal)
- Thursday, September 17, 2026 (Sixth sub-rehearsal)
- Wednesday, September 23, 2026 (Seventh sub-rehearsal)
During each rehearsal day, the royal barges launch from the Rama VIII Bridge area starting at 15:00 hours and conclude their run at Wat Arun.
Public Viewing Areas and Broadcast Channels
Spectators wishing to observe the training runs can access designated public viewing zones along both banks of the Chao Phraya River.
On the Phra Nakhon side, viewers can gather at Santichai Prakan Park near Phra Sumen Fort, Tha Maharaj, and Tha Chang. For audiences unable to attend in person, the Royal Thai Navy provides live broadcasts of the drills through the official Facebook page of the Naval Civil Affairs Department.
