Lottery enthusiasts look for "lucky numbers" for the 16/5/26 draw at the Golden Takhian Spirit honoring ceremony of the over 200-year-old tree, after villagers lit numbered incense sticks and won big in lotteries.
At 09:49 on 13 May 26, reporters reported that at Wat Than Uthumphon, Ban Khlong Duea, Village No. 6, Mu Si Subdistrict, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, a medium conducted a ritual ceremony to invite “Mae Ya Takhian Kaew Pood Kong” and “Mae Ya Takhian Kaew Butsbong” both over 200 years old, to possess effigies at the Golden Takhian Spirit shrine.
After villagers lit incense seeking lucky numbers and won lottery prizes for several consecutive draws, they collectively brought two female effigies dressed in traditional Thai shawls to offer. A grand ceremony was held to invite the forest spirits inhabiting the over 200-year-old Golden Takhian tree named Mae Ya Takhian Kaew Pood Kong and Mae Ya Takhian Kaew Butsbong to possess the effigies. Teacher Da and Mrs. Wi led nine traditional dancers performing to honor the ceremony, while many villagers attended. Free food stalls offering sweet and savory dishes were provided to all participants.
Reporters asked Phra Sombat (Luang Phi Toi), a temple monk, who said that several years ago villagers discovered a large, intact Golden Takhian tree over 29 meters long and more than 200 years old buried underground in the Lam Takong riverbed in Khonong Phra Subdistrict, Pak Chong District. The giant tree stump was transported by trailer to offer to Luang Pho Phra Kru Uthumphon Khunatharn, Deputy Abbot of Pak Chong and Abbot of Wat Than Uthumphon.
The large intact tree was stored in a shelter at the temple's eastern front, while the giant stump, also believed over 200 years old, was placed separately at this site. Villagers told him that after lighting incense and candles in worship, Mae Ya Takhian Kaew Pood Kong and Mae Ya Takhian Kaew Butsbong appeared in dreams and a shrine was built for them to reside in. This belief is personal faith, but one should not be superstitious or misguided. People are advised to avoid wrongdoing, focus on doing good deeds, and be generous to others, which brings merit to the heart. Lottery enthusiasts lit incense and obtained lucky numbers 843, 384, 34, 84, and 83, which many used to try their luck in the lottery for the 16 May 26 draw.