The royal body of His Holiness Buddhist Supreme Patriarch General Tep Vong, Buddhist Supreme Patriarch of Dhamma Mahanikaya of the Kingdom of Cambodia, was cremated this morning at an official ceremony in front of Botum Vattey pagoda in Phnom Penh, after being laid in state at Ounalom pagoda for 100 days.
The royal cremation ceremony was held under the royal presidency of His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia.
Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, President of the Senate; Samdech Moha Rathsapheathika Thipadei Khuon Sudary, President of the National Assembly; Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister; many senior officials and Cambodian Buddhist monks at all levels as well as delegations of Buddhist monks from different nations and foreign diplomatic corps accredited to Cambodia were also on hand.
After the funeral reading by Samdech Preah Oudom Chakriya Pundit Chhoeung Bunchea, Vice President of Sangha Judicial Council of Kingdom of Cambodia, and Chief of Monks at Vimean Techeas Sras Chak pagoda, His Majesty the King offered fire to cremate the royal body of Buddhist Supreme Patriarch General Tep Vong.
Venerable Tep Vong passed away in Phnom Penh on Feb. 26, 2024 at around 17:40, at the age of 93 years old due to natural causes.
The Royal Government has announced to set June 3, 2024 as the second official mourning day for the Great Supreme Patriarch of Cambodia. The first official mourning day was Feb. 27, a day after his passing away.
According to the government’s directive, all flags at public and private institutions must be lowered to a third from the top of the flagpole, while all entertaining programmes on both public and private TV and radio stations are ordered to be postponed today.
