Wat Tha Pha temple in Ratchaburi province distributed one truckload of "Golden Bananas" to faithful donors making merit, along with a chance to win from a lucky number drawing ceremony, hoping for good fortune on National Labor Day.
On 30 Apr 2026 GMT+7, reporters visited Wat Tha Pha in Tha Pha subdistrict, Ban Pong district, Ratchaburi, after reports that people were coming to make merit and receive special large golden bananas, export-grade for Japan. The temple gave them to devotees in celebration of National Labor Day. In front of the Thai-style pavilion housing a statue of Mae Boonruen Tongboonterm and under the sermon hall, hundreds of premium-grade golden bananas were displayed, with signs reading "Donate 50 baht per bunch." Many people showed interest in donating before offering the giant bananas to Mae Boonruen and then taking them home for consumption as a blessing.
Mr. Chakaj Sripho, a committee member of Wat Tha Pha, revealed that all these golden bananas were donated by Khun Pimjai and Khun Lek Kaewjai, owners of Kaewjai, a renowned Thai restaurant in Narita, Japan. Originally, this batch was quality-selected export bananas, but due to the recent extreme heat, the bananas ripened and spoiled faster than expected. If shipped, they would be overripe upon arrival, so the decision was made to donate them to the temple for merit-making, totaling one truckload.
Weighing the bananas showed the largest bunch almost 8 kilograms, while smaller bunches weighed around 4 kilograms. Such premium-quality bananas would typically sell for no less than 200 baht per bunch in the market. However, the temple wanted donors to receive quality goods, so anyone donating 50 baht or more could take home one export-grade golden banana bunch as a blessing.
The reason people offer bananas to Mae Boonruen is a traditional belief passed down that such offerings bring smooth success in work and business, making any task as easy as peeling and eating a banana.
Besides the lively merit-making atmosphere, lottery enthusiasts eagerly awaited lucky numbers. Today, Mr. Chakaj conducted a ritual of drawing auspicious ping-pong balls in front of Mae Boonruen's statue as a National Labor Day gift. The number drawn was 547, prompting locals nearby to take out their phones to photograph and note the number, hoping to win big in the upcoming lottery draw.
