This is surely the world's strangest funeral - where villagers fire ROCKETS at the pyre.<br /><br />The bizarre event was held yesterday (May 7) in Pathumthani, central Thailand, following the death of a respected monk. <br /><br />Locals made 3ft long wooden rockets crammed with gunpowder which were ignited and raced along metal wires. <br /><br />They reach the end of the runway before launching in the air aimed at the red and yellow bamboo funeral pyres. <br /><br />The winning rocket was the one that successfully smashed into the wooden structure, which after the event was used for cremating the monk. <br /><br />Buddhist dignitary Phra Nakkarat said the tradition brought ''good luck'' to the dead monk's soul before he ascended into the afterlife.<br /><br />Phra Nakkarat said: ''The event begins with a parade of the rockets before they're taken to the area where the funeral pyre is set up. It's a beautiful procession. <br /><br />''The rockets are blessed. They're lit with a flame and they run forward with a fantastic noise. The winner is the one who knocks over the funeral pyre. That pyre is then used to burn the body.<br /><br />''There's a lot of cheering from the crowd. It's a lot of good fun and the committee of monks spend a lot of time organising the day.<br /><br />''Later on, the body of the monk is burned along with the rockets. It is a tradition we have enjoyed here for many years. It brings good luck to soul of the monk before they are reborn again.''
