Fire-damaged Ya Nang shrine still draws lottery hopefuls

Despite being ravaged by fire earlier this month, Ya Nang Shrine in Ratchaburi province continues to attract a throng of believers seeking lucky lottery numbers. As the lottery draw today, approached, the shrine saw a surge of visitors, undeterred by the damage from the fire on November 2.

The atmosphere intensified as night fell, with visitors arriving in droves to pay their respects and seek blessings. The scene was abuzz with activity, with more people pouring in as the night progressed. They came in various vehicles, from pickup trucks, and saloon cars to motorbikes hauling sidecars carrying elderly people and children. They all came to light incense sticks and asked for good luck, shaking the fortune sticks until the sought-after numbers slowly revealed themselves.

One of the believers, Nok, has known the shrine for many years. During tough times, she would come to ask for blessings. On days when her business was not doing well, she would seek the shrine’s help to boost her sales. She genuinely saw an increase in her income as her requests were fulfilled.

On religious days, she would bring a wreath to offer. She used to win the lottery frequently, often dreaming of the winning numbers before bedtime. She has won four to five consecutive rounds, reported KhaoSod.

For this round, she dreamt of the number 808 after paying respects at the shrine. Despite her faith, she was disheartened to learn about the fire at the shrine and was unsure of what had happened. She promised that if she won this round, she would rebuild the shrine. For this round, she bought six lottery tickets.

A former police officer, who used to serve at the checkpoint in this area, revealed that in the past, the road was a single lane where accidents frequently occurred. But now, with four lanes, and due to the sacredness of the shrine, many successful locals never fail to pay their respects and seek good fortune. The offerings have increased over time, leading to the unfortunate fire incident.

“Today, I have also come to ask for a blessing. If I succeed, I will offer a golden boy statue to keep the shrine company, so it does not feel lonely, and I will refurbish the shrine. I might even organise a retro dance performance if I win a significant lottery prize.”