Prayers for the puja
Buddhists join Hindus for rituals marking the birth of the god Ganesh
Although Thailand is a Buddhist country, statues and shrines to Hindu deities are commonly seen. Many Hindus – joined by Buddhists – pay their respects to Ganesh, the god known as “the remover of obstacles”. Buddhists often make an offering at a Ganesh shrine when starting out on a new venture, such as opening a business.
As was taking place in India at the same time, Bangkok last Monday celebrated the birthday of Ganesh, the elephant god of wisdom and prosperity, at the Shiva Temple (Wat Khaek) in Silom district.
Bhamins led hundreds of devotees, both Hindus and Buddhists, into the temple for the ritual called in Sanskrit “puja”. The faithful carried statues of the god to be set out for worship as well as models of elephants, marigold garlands, sweets, bananas and sugarcane.
The puja includes a ceremony called the “homa”, in which fire symbolises God, an abstract concept not easily visualised. People toss into the flames their requests written on paper, beautiful garments, various metals and other items, both as offerings to God and symbolic releases of desires.
Ganesh is also adored as a patron of the arts. The deity is thought to encourage creativity, and is thus popular among artistically inclined people. This is why the elephant-headed god is depicted within the logos of Thailand’s Department of Fine Arts and Silpakorn University, the Kingdom’s first fine-arts institute.
Ganesh is typically associated in Thailand with success, accomplishment, wisdom and wealth, so it’s not surprising the deity is popular with worshippers here well beyond the art and entertainment circles.
There are many Ganesh shrines and statues around Thailand. Another famous Hindu statue is in Bangkok’s Ratchaprasong shopping district, serving as a veritable tourist attraction in front of the Isetan store at CentralWorld on Rajdamri Road.
Outside the capital, the most popular location the Utthayan Ganesh Temple in Nakhon Nayok, but there’s also a new 24-metre-long reclining Ganesh, rendered in pink, at Wat Saman Rattanaram in Chachoengsao, touted as the biggest of its kind in the world.
