Photo: reuters
Brilio.net/en - Increasing popularity of classic child-like dolls which are believed to possess the spirits of child angels has taken Thailands authorities and psychologists into concern.
The Thai as luk thep dolls, which are believed to bring their owners good fortune, are purchased for hundreds of dollars and blessed by Buddhist monks. The dolls popularity expanded after some Thai celebrities affirmed their dolls had brought them luck.
Shops in Thailand selling clothing, accessories and even beauty treatments for the dolls. To your surprise, a buffet restaurant in Bangkok offers childrens meals for them.
If those treatments arent enough, a domestic airline now serving drinks and snacks for the dolls if the owners purchase a seat for them.
In a memo to its staff, Thai Smile, a subsidiary of the national carrier Thai Airways, explained the dolls could be considered children as they had undergone a spiritual ceremony breathing life into them.
Thailand's Civil Aviation Authority is expected to hold a meeting with airlines and airport operators this week to discuss the surging passengers demand to take their dolls on board.
Superstitions
According to to Nattasuda Taephant, director of psychological wellness at Chulalongkorn University, if the dolls helped owners to make them feel better, then the hype is rather inoffensive.
But if it crosses the boundary of reality and they believe they can talk to the luk thep doll that would be something concerning in terms of mental health, says she, Tuesday (26/1), as reported by VOA.
Thai mental health officials have issued an appeal for people to stick to original religious values to avoid superstitious belief, but its rooted in ancient Southeast Asian notions.
Luk thep dolls are a clever blend of superstition and the digital era, says Jedsada Chokdamrongsuk, the director general of the mental health department under the Public Health Ministry.
Long time ago, Thailands spiritual leaders traditionally roast bodies of stillborns or removed dead fetuses from women's wombs, blessed them, then wrap them in gold leaf to bring fortune, then painted with Ya Lak (lacquer). It served as household divine effigies known as kuman thong (for male figures) and hong phrai (for female ones).
The practice has largely discontinues in the modern era, but some are concerned the dolls represent a return to a more superstitious age.
I'm really wondering how part of Thai society has come to this point, said Sermsuk Kasitpradit, a veteran editor and popular blogger. As a Buddhist I am feeling much shame as it it is totally against the teaching of our Lord Buddha who preached not to believe in superstition.
Criminal usage
Beside the concern in superstition, the authority has more reason to worry. The use of dolls for criminal purposes revealed on Monday (25/1), when methamphetamine pills were found stuffed into the chest of a girl doll that had been placed in a suitcase for retrieval in the Chiang Mai airport's parking lot, said police Lt. Col. Kom Chetkhuntod.
The dolls give criminals a new way to smuggle drugs, said police General Chakthip Chajinda who added he has instructed all officers at airport and border checkpoints to strictly screen dolls.
(brl/tis)
