Crowds gather for good fortune

Crowds of people flocked to make merit and pay their respects at the City Pillar Shrine and temples in Bangkok Sunday seeking good fortune, and causing heavy traffic congestion in and around Sanam Luang.

The gathering followed astrological predictions that the planet Uranus' movement would bring unexpected changes to the country.

Astrologers had cited Sunday as the day Uranus entered the Taurus zodiac sign for the first time in 84 years. Bangkok was established on April 21, 1782, with Taurus as the capital's zodiac sign, according to astrologers.

They said the influence of Uranus' transit would a cause a major change in the country and its occupants, no matter which zodiac sign they were born under.

This influence would last as long as seven years, they said.

Astrologers advised people to make merit and pay their respects at the City Pillar Shrine, which is regarded as "the pillar of triumph", in order to avoid bad luck.

This prompted crowds to visit the shrine at Sanam Luang near the Grand Palace, causing heavy gridlock on Ratchadamnoen Road and adjoining roads.

Several temples in Bangkok were also full of crowds seeking to make merit and seeking prosperity and protection from bad fortune.

Phra Prommangalacharn, assistant abbot of Wat Trai Mit Witthayaram in Bangkok's Samphanthawong district, said the temple held a mass prayer session and invited well-known monks nationwide.

Crowds take part in an evening mass prayer session at Wat Trai Mit Witthayaram in Bangkok’s Samphanthawong district, hoping to seek blessings and ward off bad luck yesterday after astrologers predicted the influence of the planet Uranus’s orbit will bring about major change in the country. Wichan Charoenkiatpakul