Bangkok, Thailand | October 2026
The last time I watched Thailand’s Royal Barge Procession was more than 40 years ago, when I was still in high school and living near the Chao Phraya River, not far from Prannok Pier. I remember watching the ceremonial barges passing along the river, but it has taken me all these years to return for another glimpse of this remarkable Thai tradition.
I finally had the opportunity to watch the final full-dress rehearsal of the 2026 Royal Barge Procession in Bangkok. This time, I came prepared with my camera and a new lens, finding a spot at a local restaurant along the riverbank.
A Royal Tradition on the Chao Phraya River
The Royal Barge Procession is one of Thailand’s most distinctive royal ceremonies, with a history stretching back centuries. The beautifully decorated barges, traditional uniforms and synchronised rowing reflect the craftsmanship and ceremonial traditions that have been preserved through generations.
The 2026 procession features 52 ceremonial barges and approximately 2,200 Royal Thai Navy personnel, travelling in carefully coordinated formations along the Chao Phraya River.
The procession is part of the Royal Kathin Ceremony, during which His Majesty the King travels by royal barge to Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, to present Kathin robes to Buddhist monks following the end of Buddhist Lent.
Unlike an annual festival, the full Royal Barge Procession is held on selected royal occasions, making it a relatively rare sight even for those of us living in Bangkok.
Back by the River, Camera in Hand
This time, watching the procession was also an opportunity to photograph it from the riverbank.
With my new lens, I was able to follow the approaching barges and capture some of the details — the elaborate decorations, the colourful uniforms and the coordinated movements of the oarsmen.
The weather, however, had other plans.
Heavy rain began just as the procession started. It eased for a while, only to return as the final barge passed. Not quite the conditions I had hoped for, especially when photographing moving subjects from a distance.
Still, the procession continued, and so did my photography.
Watching the barges pass through the rain, with Bangkok’s riverside scenery in the background, gave me a different perspective from what I remembered as a teenager.
A Familiar River, Four Decades Later
Bangkok has changed considerably over the past 40 years. The riverbanks have developed, the skyline looks very different, and many of the places I remember from my school days have changed.
Yet the sight of the royal barges moving along the Chao Phraya River remains something quite special.
This was not my first time seeing the Royal Barge Procession, but it was my first opportunity to photograph it properly.
And after more than four decades, it was good to be back by the river, watching a familiar tradition through a different lens.
