Wat Sawang Arom in Nakhon Pathom province held a group ordination ceremony in honor of the King. Devotees following spiritual beliefs eagerly sought luck from sacred objects and happily obtained "lucky numbers" to try their fortune in the lottery draw on 16 July 2026 GMT+7.
On 12 July 2026 GMT+7, it was reported that on 11 July at Wat Sawang Arom, Khae Thao, Khun Kaeo Subdistrict, Nakhon Chai Si District, Nakhon Pathom province, Phra Kru Yotithammanuyut, also known as "Luang Por Pae" the well-known abbot, conducted a group ordination ceremony as a royal merit-making event for His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn on the occasion of his 74th birthday. The novices were carefully selected by a committee from about 80 applicants, ultimately choosing only 18. The temple covered all expenses, supported by 50 sponsors each contributing 3,000 baht. Large crowds gathered to send off the novices.
The reporter stated that before the ceremony, the temple committee took the prospective novices on a procession to various temples around Nakhon Pathom to seek forgiveness. Then the novices underwent the traditional head-shaving ritual with many relatives attending. Afterwards, Luang Por Pae gave a Dharma sermon and a famous spirit doctor conducted the novice blessing ceremony, moving many relatives to tears.
Early in the morning, devotees streamed in to see their children ordain. Before the ceremony, all novices took a solemn vow before a portrait of King Rama X to strictly observe moral discipline, go on alms rounds every morning during their monkhood, avoid all drugs, and promote Buddhism. The novices then paraded around the ordination hall accompanied by lively traditional music before entering the hall to be ordained as Buddhist monks.
The reporter also noted that after the group ordination ceremony, many attendees dispersed to seek lottery luck within the temple, visiting sacred objects such as Phra Ngern Phra Thong, Ta Thong Ngiu Rai, Thao Hiran Phanasun, Grandfather Rishi, and the black doll Kumarn Juk Dam and Kumarn Nong Kao Love Love 30 Million. Ta Thong Ngiu Rai was especially crowded, known for granting many lucky fortunes and being the most popular.
Later, visitors observed the holy water basin with wax drops nearby; some shook fortune sticks, others drew eggs from a basket. Ms. Samrerng Maenmat, 58, from Bang Khun Thian, brought her nephew to worship and had him shake fortune sticks, resulting in the number 416. She personally saw wax drop numbers 507 and 16. She said she felt greatly blessed today, both for sending her nephew to ordain and receiving lucky numbers from him, before buying lottery tickets at stalls around the temple.