ABSTRACT
Thailand is a nation of approximately sixty million people who live in a primarily rural-agricultural country roughly the size of the nation of France or the state of Texas. As a modern nation, Thailand has always been an independent constitutional monarchy with a representative form of government. As in other religious traditions, all of the funeral activities will emphasize the importance of the religious world view, promote community cohesiveness, and reincorporate chief mourners into the routine patterns of social life of the society. The entire face of the deceased is covered with gold leaves and then placed within a casket. The casket is put on a carriage and taken from the wat compound to the cremation site. The royal fire is carried by a group of government officials dressed in the white official uniform, while the orchestra plays the Royal Anthem in salutation to the King of Thailand.
