Nonthaburi shrine draws crowds with lucky numbers
Locals seek blessings and lottery luck at annual riverside ritual
Worshippers gathered at a historic shrine in Nonthaburi during a traditional ceremony where lucky numbers appeared, with a stern warning against pork offerings.
Locals flocked to the revered Goddess Tubtim Thong shrine for its annual merit-making ceremony, hoping for blessings, protection, and perhaps a little lottery luck.
The event, held today, November 13, at Wat Bang Krai Nok in Bang Khun Kong subdistrict, drew crowds of devotees who lit firecrackers in tribute. When the smoke cleared, numbers 92 and 541 appeared on the firecracker tails, sparking excitement among hopeful villagers and eager gamblers.
Former Bang Khun Kong mayor Anupong Kanphum shared the shrine’s deep-rooted legend.
“The shrine has stood beside the temple for over 100 years and is highly revered. During World War II, soldiers would pray here and take coloured cloths blessed by the shrine into battle. Those who did reportedly returned unharmed.”
But not all offerings are welcome. Local lore warns that pork is strictly forbidden at the shrine. The reason, while not definitively known, is steeped in fearsome superstition.
“There have been reports of people who ignored the pork taboo suffering unexplained accidents or even death. One man who brought a piglet as an offering later drowned under mysterious circumstances.”
As a result, the shrine’s devotees avoid pork entirely when making offerings, and in some cases, for life.
“I made a vow almost a decade ago. After my wishes were fulfilled, I stopped eating pork completely, as part of my promise to the goddess.”
The annual ceremony also preceded the traditional alms-giving for 108 monks travelling by boat, a longstanding custom in the community, KhaoSod reported.
The Tubtim Thong shrine, considered sacred by many in the Khlong Bangkok Noi community, is said to grant reasonable wishes to those who show genuine faith and uphold its traditions.
No one can say exactly why the goddess is believed to reject pork, but locals agree on one thing: break the rule, and misfortune may follow.
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