Devotees packed Wat Sawang Arom to take part in the event.The "Gold Leaf Covering Ceremony for 9 Temples' 99 Boundary Spheres".Spiritual followers did not miss praying for luck fromthe "God Guan Yu."They shook fortune sticks to request"lucky numbers."to try their luck on 16 Feb 2026.
On 15 Feb 2026 at Wat Sawang Arom, Khae Thaeo, Khun Kaeo Subdistrict, Nakhon Chai Si District, Nakhon Pathom Province, the temple hosted the 11th annual gold leaf covering ceremony for boundary spheres from 9 poor temples across 9 provinces. So far, 99 temples have received boundary spheres and donations from devotees, with dozens more temples awaiting official registration with the temple.
This year's event took place from 12 Feb to 8 Mar 2026. Devotees flocked in large numbers to apply gold leaf. Most agreed that making merit here covers 9 temples at once, without much expense and is conveniently nearby. Visitors also enjoyed the beauty of the sunflower gardens and flower beds, while paying respects to many sacred objects at the temple reputed to bring luck and fortune.
The event atmosphere was lively. The 99 boundary spheres arranged around the ordination hall required about 30 minutes to cover completely. Inside the hall, the boundary sphere of Wat Sawang Arom and a Buddha footprint relic over 200 years old were also available for gold leaf application for merit. After finishing, devotees queued to receive a candle wax tear ceremony performed by the abbot and a hand blessing with sacred powder for good fortune.
A highlight of this gold leaf event was the abbot inviting the God Guan Yu, mounted for battle, to be relocated from in front of the sermon hall to a large tent at the command center. This allowed Thai-Chinese devotees to worship and pray for fortune. In front of the tent, where a giant boundary sphere taller than a two-story building stood, the deity Thao Hirun Panasur was also enshrined for devotees to seek blessings and luck.
Ms. Suriya Saksupap, 63, a resident of Nakhon Chai Si and one of the participants, revealed that she has made merit and applied gold leaf at Wat Sawang Arom every year since the abbot first started the event, always praying for luck.She prayed,and before making merit and applying gold leaf, she wished for good fortune—and surprisingly has won the lottery every year.
This year was no different; after making merit and applying gold leaf, she prayed for luck as usual. Then she noticed many people praying to the God Guan Yu, tying red threads and praying under the horse’s belly of the battle statue—something she had never seen before. She decided to try this to ask for fortune because it was the final chance before the lottery draw.
She then shook the fortune sticks to seek lucky numbers, and three sticks fell showing 9, 2, and 7. She vowed that if she won, she would offer ten baskets of green oranges at the gold leaf covering event. Afterwards, she went to buy lottery tickets at the temple stalls.