Kan Tenhratana, 24, is a graduate student from National University of Management, majoring in accounting. During her childhood, she learnt housekeeping and social morality with her aunt as well as other traditional ceremony practices.

Proper clothes for a funeral

To show deep sorrow or participation in any funeral, women wear long black skirts and white shirts with a black small ribbon attached. Men wear black trousers and white shirts with a black long cloth (size of 1cm by 2mm) rolling around the right sleeve. The most important thing is that neither wear any jewelry.

The way to salute King Father’s body

The way to salute the deceased varies depending on the different social status of the deceased and mourners. For the King Father, we have to sit on our legs and salute the body by placing both hands together palm to palm in front of the eyebrows. Then, we bow three times, which is done for every deceased person.

What to say to a dead person and his/her relatives

During salutation, we say, “Please may the spirit of the body go to heaven.” We can also share his/her relatives’ sadness by short and simple sentences. We say, “Aunt or uncle, I am really sorry about this. Please, stop crying. He/She has gone to heaven.”

Funeral decoration

In the funeral, white is the best decoration because it shows purity. A deceased person’s relatives wear white clothes. White flowers and candles are used. But black can also be used to sadness to guests and hosts.

A Place for the remains

It depends on people’s belief where they place the burnt remains. There are three places where people can put the bones. The first place is in the stupa inside the pagoda so that the spirit of the deceased person can listen to the monks’ prayers every day. The second place is the stupa on their land, in case they want to have their relatives to live all together. Last option is to free the bones and the ashes into water.