The announcement was made yesterday (May 15) during a meeting led by Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong at Phuket Provincial Hall and attended by relevant government officials to provide an update on the late king’s funeral preparations.
Speaking at yesterday’s meeting, Gov Norraphat said, “The Ministry of Interior has ordered every province to prepare locations for people to offer Dokmai Jan for King Bhumibol’s funeral.
“In Phuket there will be three places where people can offer Dokmai Jan and they are Saphan Hin in Phuket Town, Ketho Temple in Kathu, and Manik Temple in Thalang.
“It was decided to use these three locations as they offer plenty of space to hold such activities,” he said.
“The Phuket Institute for Skill Development will select and send two people to Sanam Suea Pa in Bangkok to learn how to make Dokmai Jan on May 20. When they return, these two people will then teach staff from education centres and local administrative offices how to make Dokmai Jan, the skills of which will then be passed on to others.
“The Local Administrative Office will provide the budget for Dokmai Jan materials under a project entitled ‘Making Conferred Dokmai Jan’, and people will be invited to make different kinds of conferred Dokmai Jan; daffodils, roses, cotton roses, lilies, orchids, hibiscus, and sleeping hibiscus.
“We believed that Phuket will make no less than 300,000 Dokmai Jan for the late king’s funeral.
“People are also invited to plant marigolds from Oct 20 in honour of the late king. Marigolds will be used to decorate government offices, houses and offices during the funeral services from October 25-29,” he added.
Dokmai Jan are flowers created from wood shavings traditionally used in Thai funerals. The “flowers” are set alight during the cremation process. (See story here.)