A big weekend in Thailand awaits, as the King is set to be officially crowned. The three-day ritual will include various aspects, including a bathing ceremony involving sacred waters from across the Kingdom. It's all part of an elaborate process that not only formally marks his ascension to the throne, but also his transformation into a so-called living god. Tony Cheng has more now from Bangkok.

The coronation of a living God is a rare thing in the modern era. But this weekend central Bangkok will be shut down for the crowning, and deification of Thailand's new monarch, King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Preparations have been underway for months. Morakot specializes in lifelike busts of Thai Monarchs, and this one will be ready just in time.

MORAKOT PHAOPHONG SCULPTOR "As a Thai, I am excited to be able to witness the coronation. It is going to be the most important and grandest ceremony in Thai history for us to witness together."

The last time this happened was in 1950, when King Bhumipol was crowned. Although he went on to become to longest reigning monarch in the world, his accession to the throne came at a time when many in Thailand considered the monarchy a waning power.

By the time of his death, however, he was widely revered.

DOMINIC FAULDER, AUTHOR "KING BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ: A LIFE'S WORK" "They viewed him as being Thailand in many ways because he died at 88 and people hadn't known a time when he wasn't King, so they had a very emotional relationship with him."

That legacy may be as much of a burden as a boon. King Vajiralongkorn is already 66 years old and has spent much of his life outside the public eye.

He has shown himself to be fiercely independent, suggesting his, will be a reign forged very much on his own terms. But unlike his father, he doesn't appear to have many trusted advisors.

SULAK SIVARAKSA HISTORIAN "So I think he's very confident. My only fear is that if he's overconfident it would be dangerous. Because the present king has no advisors. People around him are wonderful but they're all yes men and that's my concern."

Despite the planned pomp and circumstance of the coronation, very little discussion on the streets.

TONY CHENG BANGKOK "Across Bangkok, there are floral offerings and shrines to celebrate the new king. But there's very little public discourse about the coronation. Thailand still has very harsh laws about insulting the monarchy. And that means when you ask ordinary Thais about their new King, many are too afraid to answer."

Much of the ceremony will be televised, and a public parade has been added to proceedings to give ordinary people the chance to participate.

The first coronation of the new millennium promises to be a spectacle to remember, Tony Cheng CGTN, Bangkok.