Gold leaf for luck: Thais flock to get a face-blessing ritual amid economic hardships

Gold leaf for luck: Thais flock to get a face-blessing ritual amid economic hardships

In Ayutthaya, at Por Kae Ngoen Lan Park — a site known for its "drum-beating to call wealth" tradition — dozens of devotees sit patiently as their faces gradually disappear beneath sheets of shimmering gold leaf. Before them stands a statue of Por Kae, the hermit-sage revered across Thailand as a master of ancient wisdom and protector of those seeking fortune. One by one, they step forward to have gold pressed onto their foreheads, cheeks and chins, transforming their faces into gilded masks glinting in the afternoon sun.

The ritual, performed by ritual master Tong Aek Banturaratchasi, 35, has drawn growing crowds in recent months as Thailand's economy grapples with sluggish growth, rising costs and shrinking consumer spending. For many who arrive at the park, the gold leaf is more than decoration; it is a symbolic act of self-empowerment.

For these devotees, marking their faces with gold is as much about restoring confidence as it is about courting luck, transforming the park into what he calls a place of mental refuge for those struggling to keep their livelihoods afloat.

REUTERS VIDEO

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