Publicity: | Superstition and tradition play an important role in many aspects of Thai life. This report from correspondent Karen Percy shows a ritual that's played out every day but is far from ordinary. |
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| It's a spiritual quest for happiness, wealth, even love. |
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| Music | 00:00 |
Blessing ceremony | PRIEST: May I humbly offer to sacrifice... CROWD: May I humbly offer to sacrifice... | 00:10 |
| PERCY: Varm Thepmunee is one of the most sought after Brahmin priests in Bangkok. Today he's been summoned to the newly renovated home of the Vongvijitkul family. They've gathered their friends, and laid a sumptuous table. | 00:15 |
| All of this for a very special blessing of their home. | 00:36 |
Priest conducts blessing | PRIEST: Kindly be mercy, and forgive me... CROWD: Kindly be mercy, and forgive me... PRIEST: Forgive... CROWD: Forgive... PRIEST: To me. CROWD: To me. PRIEST: My family and people around me... CROWD: My family and people around me. | 00:40 |
Men carry spirit house | But it's not for the house they live in. It's for the house that will be inhabited by the spirits of the land. | 00:52 |
Kaveena. Super: | KAVEENA: It is the belief of Thais that they should establish or to have spirit houses inside the compound. | 01:00 |
Priest continues blessing | The Spirit House is like a guardian, to take care of the area inside the house, to protect people in the house. | 01:11 |
Men put spirit house into place | PERCY: And it's not a procedure to be rushed. For spirits can make exacting demands. They might also expect to be showered with riches and gifts. | 01:22 |
| And not just on a day like today, but for all time. | 01:39 |
Spirit house | [Singing] | 01:43 |
Lots of spirit houses | PERCY: Spirit house often reflect the houses or buildings they're protecting. They can be ornate, or simple. It comes down to what the owner can afford. | 01:52 |
Spirit house behind tractor | Some spirits like the wide open spaces. | 02:07 |
Spirit house in city | While others enjoy the hustle and bustle of the big city. | 02:10 |
Percy walks with Philip to spirit house in city | PERCY: Here is a very unusual one... PHILIP: Yes, you can see from the building up here how similar the style is and that's because of the phenomenon when you upgrade your premises, you need to upgrade the quality of the premises of the spirit of the land as well, | 02:17 |
| otherwise they will get upset. The whole purpose is to keep the spirits happy. PERCY: Author Philip Cornwell-Smith writes about Thai culture. | 02:33 |
Philip at city spirit house | PHILIP: Now what we have here is a building that is metal or glass oriented so spirit house, following that, is made of metal and glass. | 02:43 |
Cousin arrives on motorbike | Music | 02:52 |
| PERCY: The spirits demand regular attention. And early morning trips to the market are a must, in order to get them the freshest and the best in foods and flowers. | 03:00 |
Pharujee and cousin make offerings to spirit house | SASITHORN: Now we are going to hand these two flowers on both sides. PERCY: Pharujee Yimkaow is helping her cousin, Sasithorn, with today's offerings. | 03:13 |
| Everything has significance. From the type of food, the colours -- even how it's served. | 03:22 |
| SASITHORN: How much for the oranges? PHARUJEE: One kilo for 20 baht. SASITHORN: Did you get it from the market? PHARUJEE: No I got them from the flower shop. | 03:30 |
| PERCY: Spirits don't just take -- they give as well. | 03:44 |
Pharujee. Super: | PHARUJEE: I want something good to happen with me, I want good life, money, everything, love - yes something like that. | 03:48 |
Pharujee at Erawan shrine | Pharujee: Hey. Hi I've already bought everything... PERCY: Besides appealing to spirits at home, Thais also seek guidance from the gods at the numerous public shrines. | 04:00 |
Pharujee and Pintukarn at shrine | Pharujee usually meets her friend Pintukarn Pattanawaland at the popular Erawan shrine in downtown Bangkok. Pharujee: Now what are you wishing for today? | 04:17 |
| Pintukarn: Today I think I ask for a job - what about you? Pharujee: Me too. Good job. | 04:26 |
People at Erawan shrine | PERCY: Every day thousands of Thais flock here too engage in an age old ritual that fits in easily with their modern day lives. | 04:32 |
Shrines in city | The most imposing shrines are found in the centre of Bangkok's busy shopping district. | 04:46 |
| This is one of the most popular - especially on Thursdays when Bangkok's lovelorn youth come out in force. PERCY: How did this one become the love shrine? | 04:42 |
| PHILIP: He's a god of almost everything, but young Thais, specifically young Thais, adopted him as being a god of love possibly because this is a | 05:02 |
Percy and Philip at shrine | hang out of young people, and when they come to the shrine, they make wishes about what they care about, which is where to find a boyfriend or a girlfriend. | 05:09 |
CU Incense | [Singing] | 05:17 |
Shrine statues | PERCY: For centuries Thais have been looking to the spirits and the gods to make them happy, to make them rich and to help them find love. | 05:27 |
Young women at shrine | Sometimes the spirits come through. Since our visit, at least one of Pharujee's wishes has come true. She's moved to Macau and is working at one of the casinos there. | 05:39 |
| But even if they don't get their wishes, young Thais continue to embrace these rituals from the past just, as they embrace the future. | 05:55 |
| Reporter: Karen Percy Cameras: David Leland, Marc Leban Editor: Garth Thomas Producers: Kate Gunn, Kochakorn Jaroensap-Olam Production Company: ABC Australia - Foreign Correspondent | 06:05
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