Thai people nationwide will pay final tribute to Her Royal Highness Princess Bejaratana at the royal cremation ceremony on April 9 on which Thai cabinet earlier declared as a public holiday.

HRH Princess Bejaratana, the only child of King Rama VI, had been admitted for treatment for blood infection at a renounced hospital in Bangkok on July 13, 2011 before she passed away later on July 27 the same year at the age of 85.

Thai cabinet, during its meeting on Jan. 31 approved a budget of 300 million baht (9.7 million U.S. dollars) to organize the royal cremation ceremony which is scheduled on April 8-12. The government has also sought cooperation from the general public to wear mourning outfits while government offices, state enterprises, and educational institutions have been instructed to lower the national flag to half mast during the mourning period.

At the same time, entertainment places will be asked to suspend or cut back entertainment activities, while television and radio stations will be asked to closely monitor their programs to ensure that they will be appropriate during the period.

The royal merit making will take place April 8 at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall at the Grand Palace, in preparation to move the royal urn to Sanam Luang ceremonial ground. Their Majesties the King and Queen are scheduled to preside over the ceremony.

The ancient rites of the royal cremation ceremony will take place on April 9 when the royal urn will be transferred to the royal crematorium at Sanam Luang ceremonial site in the morning before a symbolic royal cremation held in the afternoon, followed by the actual royal cremation late at night.

A ceremony for relic collection is scheduled the following day while a merit-making ceremony for the royal relics and the enshrinement of the royal ashes will take place the following days.

Public performances including traditional Thai drama, great shadow plays, and puppet shows will be held on three open-air stages at Sanam Luang from 7 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday.

On the cremation day, there will be six processions comprising of 3,500 participants including soldiers, police and students from the college, established by King Rama VI, the princess's father.

Thousands of people from all walks of life are expected to gather at the ceremonial ground of Sanam Luang on Monday. On this occasion, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the City Hall, also produced and distributed a large number of sandalwood flowers to some 46 temples in the capital where people could also lay sandalwood flowers to pay the last tribute to the late princess.

About 16 roads around Sanam Luang ceremonial ground will be closed from Sunday midnight until the end of the royal cremation on Monday. However, free public bus services will be provided to people who travel to attend the royal cremation ceremony at Sanam Luang.