Unprecedented tourist influx on full moon day at Wan Nakee Island’s shrine

Tourists flocked to Wat Kham Chanot Wang Nakee coinciding with the revered day of the full moon and the traditional Loy Krathong Festival on November 27.

The shrine, located in Ban Muang, Ban Dung district, Udon Thani province, is dedicated to Nakee Island’s spiritual guardians, Grandfather Sri Sutho and Grandmother Ya Sri Pathum.

The shrine’s spiritual significance attracted a vast number of devotees, despite it being a significant Buddhist day and the Loy Krathong Festival. The worship area was so crowded that it was almost impossible to find a spot to place their offerings. Some visitors came to fulfil their vows to the spiritual guardians after their wishes were granted, while others were there to invoke good fortune and prosperity according to their faith and beliefs.

Among the crowd, a family of three was seen participating in the ritual for the first time. They were guided by Jum Chawakarn Kamwan, the regular spiritual medium at the shrine, in a 30-minute ceremony to invoke good fortune.

After the ceremony, Jum performed a mystical water ritual, hoping the spiritual guardians would bless the visitors on this auspicious full moon day, reported Sanook.

Once the ceremony was complete, everyone eagerly anticipated the magical numbers from the melting candle wax in the water, a common practice in Thai folk beliefs associated with lottery predictions. Different individuals claimed to see different numbers, some saw double 33, others saw 313. These numbers are eagerly awaited by lottery enthusiasts for the upcoming draw on December 1.

In related news, a Thai woman honoured a vow at the Kampaeng Phet City Pillar Shrine in the northern province of Kampaeng Phet after she successfully divorced her ex-husband after five years of trying by running 20 kilometres. Read more about this story HERE.

In other news, 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. Read more about this story HERE.