Surin police spirit house ritual sparks lottery fever

A buzz of excitement swept through the police housing complex in Surin Province yesterday as officers and the local community gathered for a ritual ceremony. The ceremonial relocation of a spirit house at the police flats, adjacent to the main road number 226 from Sikhoraphum to Surin, became the focal point for lottery enthusiasts seeking auspicious numbers to bet on in the upcoming draw.

Yesterday, February 29, at 9am, a team of 20 police officers led by the district’s police chief, participated in the ceremony to install the new spirit house, which replaced the old one as part of a beautification project for the police housing area. The decision to renew the spirit house coincided with landscaping improvements and the filling of land by the Irrigation Department, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the area for both the officers’ families and the public seeking police services, reported Sanook.

The ritual was conducted by a Brahmin from the local area, further emphasizing the significance of the event. During the ceremony, offerings such as a pig’s head with sweetened water and liquor were made to appease the spirits. The police chief highlighted the importance of the ceremony, which was considered to bring peace and prosperity to the officers’ families and to facilitate a more pleasant environment for the public to engage with the police services.

As part of the ritual, three pig heads were offered up, and it wasn’t long before the officers spotted numbers on the incense sticks placed into the pig heads. The number 275 emerged, sparking a wave of excitement among the attendees who quickly spread the word that if the lottery draw matched these auspicious digits, they would pool their winnings to hire a big band for a performance at the police flats.

The excitement was palpable as officers crowded around lottery ticket sellers, hoping to secure the lucky number. In the local community, other numbers also gained attention, such as 852 and 930, which were associated with different spirit houses and rituals. These numbers were eagerly sought after for the lottery draw scheduled for March 1.