NAKHON PANOM — Buddhist worshipers are flocking to the fallen head of a giant Buddha statue, which was recently unearthed in Nakhon Panom province, in search of good luck.
The head was a part of a failed construction project to build a 9-metre-tall Buddha statue at Wat Buddha Nimit Temple in Tha Uthen district 26 years ago.
The construction was halted when scaffolds around the huge Buddha collapsed, injuring several construction workers, local officials said. The head of the Buddha also fell off from its body. Over time, the Buddha and its detached head became completely buried underground. Local administration officials unearthed the artifacts for the first time earlier this week.
The news has attracted much attention from local residents, who flocked to witness the unearthed giant Buddha head and construct a number of colourful shrines filled with offerings of fruit and flowers around the artifiact.
Those hoping to win the next lottery draw also closely inspected the Buddha head for potential clues to prize-winning numbers.
One such lottery hunter, Sitthichai Mikawan, 35, said he arrived with his family members this morning after hearing about the incident on TV to seek a divine fortune for next try at the lottery on 1 May.
Asked whether he found what he sought, Mr. Sitthichai said he noticed a mark resembling the number five near the Buddha head.
Lampoei Chanapot, village headman of Na Soke Nuea community, told reporters that some residents claim to have seen the numbers 815 and 915, while others swear that they have witnessed "holy water" trickling out of the Buddha head's neck.
"It's a strange incident, but I don't want them to be too superstitious," Mr. Lampoei said.
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