Mystical golden tree in Thailand draws lottery hopefuls

A giant golden bulletwood tree in Uttaradit, Thailand, has become a focal point for lottery enthusiasts, with many flocking to seek blessings and lucky numbers. The tree, believed to be over 100 years old, is renowned for its supposed mystical powers.

At Wat Donsak School in the Phai Luang sub-district, Laplae district, locals and lottery players gathered with offerings including flowers, incense, red and green drinks, and other ritual items. They performed a traditional ceremony, hoping to receive auspicious numbers from the giant golden bulletwood tree, which stands 20 metres tall and requires three people to fully encircle its trunk.

People have been drawn to the tree after rumours spread that it had brought substantial lottery winnings to others. Groups of hopefuls lit nine incense sticks each and offered garlands while praying for luck. The belief is that the tree is a sacred dwelling place of deities, and many were keenly awaiting the revelation of numbers from the incense.

Despite their efforts, no numbers appeared on the incense sticks this time, to the surprise and confusion of the gathered crowd. This was the first instance where the ritual failed to produce any numbers, leading to much speculation and conversation about the tree’s mystical properties. Participants then decided to pray for the tree’s spirit to send numbers through dreams, as had happened in the past.

Patcharin Nakmoo, a 46 year old woman, explained that the villagers of Phai Luang believe the tree houses a deity known as Chao Mae Phikun Thong. She recounted a story of a contractor who had come to repair the school’s meeting hall roof near the tree.

During his stay, he dreamed of a woman in traditional Thai attire who identified herself as Chao Mae Phikun Thong. In his dream, she provided him with numbers that later turned out to be winning lottery numbers, earning him hundreds of thousands of baht, reported KhaoSod.

As the next lottery draw approached, the villagers returned to the tree, hoping for a similar fortune. However, with no numbers manifesting on the incense sticks, they have resorted to praying for Chao Mae Phikun Thong to reveal the numbers in their dreams. Some claimed to see numbers like 32 and 67, and these were quickly noted down, with plans to use them for the upcoming lottery on August 16.