PATHUM THANI: Hundreds of people were visiting two Buddhist temples in Nong Sua district to thank their local goddesses for past lottery prizes and seek more lucky numbers before the next government lottery draw on Wednesday.
One temple is Wat Proi Fon in Moo 12 village of tambon Nong Sua. A large number of lottery enthusiasts gathered and placed coloured fabrics, betel leaves and nuts, syrup and boiled eggs near a dead but still-standing giant Ta-khian tree.
They lit incense sticks and prayed for lucky numbers before applying powder to the tree trunk and then rubbing its bark to reveal what appeared to be digits.
A woman identifying herself only as Yupin said she won a three-digit prize worth more than 100,000 baht in the last draw. She made offerings to give thanks for her good fortune - and also deciphered three new lucky numbers in the powder-covered bark.
Phra Amnuay Chotipanyo, abbot of Wat Proi Fon, said he did not support such activities and tried to warn visitors not to be obsessed with superstitious beliefs.
He said that local people believed that deities lived in Ta-khian trees and could grant favours to those who asked.
At Wat Pa Khlong 11, a huge crowd gathered at a local shrine near another big Ta-khian tree. Many visitors brought traditional Thai costumes to thank the goddess of the tree for past lottery prizes.
Polpitha Lekhawijitlert, a member of staff at the temple, said it had received more than 300 traditional costumes for girls, and planned to donate them to schools for their students to wear during classical Thai dance performances.
Traditional Thai dresses are displayed at Wat Pa Khlong 11 in Pathum Thani. (Photo by Pongpat Wongyala)