wowpow
May 22nd, 2006, 10:23
"The Bangkok Post, Faithful celebrate return of statue, by ANJIRA ASSAVANONDA
Thousands of faithful yesterday flocked to the famous Erawan Shrine to celebrate the return of the revered Brahma statue, undeterrred by heavy rain. They scrambled for a first glimpse of the statue since it was recast after being smashed by a mentally ill man two months ago. The rain which fell throughout the installation ceremony could not deter the crowd. Many became soaked, while the lucky ones took shelter under umbrellas to witness the ceremony.
It began when the image of the Hindu creator god, restored by the Fine Arts Department, was given scented water and placed on a decorated vehicle before leaving the Handicrafts Division on Buddhamonthon road at 7.59 am. The procession made three stopovers at the City Pillar Shrine, the Emerald Buddha Temple and the Brahmin temple near the Giant Swing, where worshipping and lustral water pouring ceremonies were performed. Crowds waited at the three stops and along the route to pay respect to the statue. Many offered jasmine and marigold garlands to the god _ yellow flowers are thought to be his favourite _ while waiting to grab flower petals and popped rice that were sprinkled by a group of Brahmin priests on the procession. Worshippers, many dressed in white to symbolise purity for the sacred rite, tried to touch the statue with banknotes and belongings such as wallets and handbags, in the hope of receiving the god's blessings.
The statue arrived at the Erawan Shrine at 11am for the installation and worshipping ceremony, attended by caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Four Brahmin priests carried the statue, which was placed on a palanquin, circling the shrine. The crowd cried out when the statue was enshrined into the place of worship. Many performed a wai of respect while praying.
Sarintra Iewsakul, 53, followed the procession on foot from the City Pillar Shrine to the Brahmin temple. Wearing a white dress, she said she would keep following the statue to the Erawan Shrine as the ceremony was a unique experience. "It's an historic event that is worth attending. I don't think there will be another chance in our lifetime to see this kind of ritual," she said. The woman, who has profound belief in the god, said she had been once favoured during her university entrance exam, where she won a seat at Chulalongkorn University's faculty of communications. Since then she has kept her faith in the god, and regularly paid respect to the statue when she passed by the shrine.
A 50-year-old woman who identified herself as Supanee turned up with four garlands, candles and joss sticks to worship the god. "I come today to ask the god to help heal my illness," said Ms Supanee, who has breast cancer. She was looking for flower petals sprinkled from the procession, to mix them into home-made herbal medicine.
Other followers also expected the god to bring them luck, setting their hopes on the number 9331, the registration number of the leading vehicle which carried the statue to the shrine. They hope the number will bring them lottery prizes.
Flower vendors who have made their earnings at the shrine for decades also welcomed the return of the statue. They hired a klong yao (traditional Thai drum) performance troupe to welcome the god."
Thousands of faithful yesterday flocked to the famous Erawan Shrine to celebrate the return of the revered Brahma statue, undeterrred by heavy rain. They scrambled for a first glimpse of the statue since it was recast after being smashed by a mentally ill man two months ago. The rain which fell throughout the installation ceremony could not deter the crowd. Many became soaked, while the lucky ones took shelter under umbrellas to witness the ceremony.
It began when the image of the Hindu creator god, restored by the Fine Arts Department, was given scented water and placed on a decorated vehicle before leaving the Handicrafts Division on Buddhamonthon road at 7.59 am. The procession made three stopovers at the City Pillar Shrine, the Emerald Buddha Temple and the Brahmin temple near the Giant Swing, where worshipping and lustral water pouring ceremonies were performed. Crowds waited at the three stops and along the route to pay respect to the statue. Many offered jasmine and marigold garlands to the god _ yellow flowers are thought to be his favourite _ while waiting to grab flower petals and popped rice that were sprinkled by a group of Brahmin priests on the procession. Worshippers, many dressed in white to symbolise purity for the sacred rite, tried to touch the statue with banknotes and belongings such as wallets and handbags, in the hope of receiving the god's blessings.
The statue arrived at the Erawan Shrine at 11am for the installation and worshipping ceremony, attended by caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Four Brahmin priests carried the statue, which was placed on a palanquin, circling the shrine. The crowd cried out when the statue was enshrined into the place of worship. Many performed a wai of respect while praying.
Sarintra Iewsakul, 53, followed the procession on foot from the City Pillar Shrine to the Brahmin temple. Wearing a white dress, she said she would keep following the statue to the Erawan Shrine as the ceremony was a unique experience. "It's an historic event that is worth attending. I don't think there will be another chance in our lifetime to see this kind of ritual," she said. The woman, who has profound belief in the god, said she had been once favoured during her university entrance exam, where she won a seat at Chulalongkorn University's faculty of communications. Since then she has kept her faith in the god, and regularly paid respect to the statue when she passed by the shrine.
A 50-year-old woman who identified herself as Supanee turned up with four garlands, candles and joss sticks to worship the god. "I come today to ask the god to help heal my illness," said Ms Supanee, who has breast cancer. She was looking for flower petals sprinkled from the procession, to mix them into home-made herbal medicine.
Other followers also expected the god to bring them luck, setting their hopes on the number 9331, the registration number of the leading vehicle which carried the statue to the shrine. They hope the number will bring them lottery prizes.
Flower vendors who have made their earnings at the shrine for decades also welcomed the return of the statue. They hired a klong yao (traditional Thai drum) performance troupe to welcome the god."