Vendors convincing passers-by to buy garlands and pay respects to the Brahmin god has become a common scene at the Ratchaprasong intersection.
Four months after the deadly Erawan shrine blast, thick smoke from joss sticks has again blanketed the shrine as hundreds of tourists, especially Asians, are returning to the spot.
As the intersection has been well-decorated ahead of New Year festivities, and many tourists are returning to the area, business at the shrine is picking up. But it has yet to meet local business operators' expectations.
Orawan Chatthong, 32, a flower vendor, has been watching business picking up since the tourism peak season began last month. The number of tourists dropped sharply in the two months immediately after the Aug 17 blast.
"It took a short while to get back on its feet. But I do hope the area makes a full recovery soon," said Ms Orawan.
She has been selling flowers at the shrine for over 20 years and witnessed various incidents, from political protests to the bomb blast.
Kanokporn Thipyosod, 65, who runs a Thai-classical dance troupe, reckons about 1,000 tourists visit the shrine each day, most of whom are from China. Her troupe performs about 100 times a day on week days and double that at weekends.
Onn, a tour guide, said Vietnamese tourists are not worried about their security and visiting the Erawan shrine remains a must for them.
Han Jun Chou, a Chinese tour guide, said Thailand remains the most popular destination for tourists from Taiwan, Korea and Japan and tourists have begun to return to the shrine as usual.
The tighter security provided since the blast is a result of efforts by City Hall, the Royal Thai Police, and business operators.
Security is mostly discreet, both watchful guards and upgraded, high-definition cameras keeping a 24-hour watch.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has made improvements to its security cameras installed at the Ratchaprasong intersection and in nearby locations and is working together with security agencies to prepare for New Year festivities.
Since the blast, a source said, the BMA has begun upgrading 107 security cameras, including improving image quality and sharpness, and changing the locations of cameras, from Pratunam intersection to Sala Daeng intersection and Pathumwan intersection.
The source said the cameras owned by the BMA usually capture a wide angle of traffic while those of private operators capture closer angles and are also aimed at their own properties, which means they can miss incidents on roads.
"The BMA has no authority to examine camera footage captured by private operators," he said.
The BMA was now working out how to merge the security camera systems owned by business operators in the area with those owned by City Hall.
During the festive season, the BMA will work with security agencies, particularly police, to step up security especially in crowded areas. Stringent security measures will be maintained throughout the coming New Year festival, the source said.
Late October, Chai Srivikorn, president of the Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association, said the association had increased the number of security cameras in the area from 1,300 to 2,155.
The newly installed cameras include ones which can deliver 12 million megapixel images, and those which rotate and provide 360-degree angle images.
The improved system aims to capture suspects within 15 minutes of an incident taking place, he said. It took up to 45 minutes to capture pictures of suspects after the Erawan blast.
Pol Lt Col Torsak Sukwimol, acting chief of the Crime Suppression Division's (CSD) special operation section, said stiff security measures which started in early December will continue until after the New Year festival.
About 50 CSD officers per shift, both in uniform and plainclothes, are working with about 30 officers from the 191 patrol squad checking popular areas including Yaowarat, Ratchaprasong, Pratunam, Rattanakosin Island, Asiatique, and the Thong Lor and Ekamai areas.
Authorities say they have not received any news of credible threats.
However, they may have to ask to check the backpacks of travellers moving through these areas.
Police are also keeping a special watch on the US, French, British, Israeli and Chinese embassies, said Pol Col Samran Nualma, chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau's police patrol section.