NAKHON PHANOM — Residents of the far northeastern province of Nakhon Phanom were giving offerings Thursday to a mango tree that has previously yielded winning lottery numbers.
One mango tree which has proved its luck to inhabitants of Nakhon Phanom in the far northeast of Thailand was allegedly yielding magical numbers, just in time for Thursday’s lottery announcement. Residents gathered at the farm of Toon Khunsri, 64 – such was the multitude that there was almost no place to park.
“In the last lottery round on May 16, everyone who came saw the number 53. Some people told me they got winnings between 35,000 baht and 100,000 baht,” Toon said. “Someone from Mukdahan province even won twice in a row, so they sent 20,000 baht to my bank account to build a roof over the offerings to the tree.”
Offerings to the mango tree have included pineapples, herbs, bananas, cakes, coconuts, Thai desserts, flowers and 14 Thai dresses.
According to residents, rubbing powder on this extra-lucky mango tree revealed lottery winning numbers in the past five lottery rounds.
On Thursday the numbers 954, 54, 25, 50, 57 and 59 were seen Thursday.
Rooted in pre-Buddhist animism, beliefs remain widespread about the auspiciousness of particularly large or old trees, making them closely watched twice a month when the national lottery is held.
Toon said visitors also donated from 20 to 1,000 baht when visiting the tree. She has accumulated over 10,000 baht, which she will use to build a footpath into the farm.
Some netizens, however, dismiss it as superstitious gambling.
“You won five times, say you? Believe me, this round you’re going with the crowd and you’ll lose your money. I’ve seen it happen tons of times,” Facebook user Chanasit Prasopkitcharoen wrote.
