Thailand – Laos: Day 8 – Part 3 – Bangkok City Pillar Shrine

Continued from Thailand – Laos Travel: Day 8 – Part 2 – Mae Phra Thoranee Beep Muay Phom & The Grand Palace, Bangkok. For pre-travel, please refer here.

What did Aqif show?

“We’re here … The Grand Palace.”

After crossing the street and taking panoramic photos of The Grand Palace, we headed to a temple building with many visitors coming in and out.

It’s a rabbit!

This is the place called Bangkok City Pillar Shrine. Its function is the same as the City Pillar we visited as in Prachuap Khiri Khan and some other places.

Location of Bangkok City Pillar Shrine

We wasted no time and immediately went inside. In the meantime, I was hesitant to enter not because of anything, but because I was wearing shorts.

We tried to get in as well. Hopefully, there is nothing related to the supernatural. We came just to see the religious activities of the Thai people. As I explained before, the Pillar Shrine acts as a ‘beacon’ or one-stop center for daily prayer ceremonies. They also believe, with prayers and positive thoughts applied here, will channel positive energy back around the city here and make the city harmonious, benefit its residents and keep away from disasters.

Many also initially went to the mourning ceremony and made this place one of the last stops before returning home. I can sense that they are not from Bangkok. Probably outside of Bangkok, just like in my country when Thaipusam, many Hindus come by bus from various states like Perak, Penang, Pahang and others.

While I was at the door of the Pillar Shrine, I was interested to see the painting of the god at the entrance.

Looks like a ceremony of tying a Buddha statue with various colorful fabrics.

I found the practice of pasting this golden-colored tin paper is implemented in almost all the temples in Thailand. What we can see in this picture is the result of paper adhesion which if counted, may reach more than 10 thousand small pieces of paper.

On the occasion, I brought the camera closer to see the ceremony carrying something shaped like a flower necklace and where it will be carried, I do not know.

Every Buddha statue has a function. There are gods of goodness, there are gods of protection, gods of sustenance and so on. For example, if someone has a sustenance problem, he will face the god of sustenance and sprinkle oil to fan the flames. The raging fire is a parable to the ever-expanding sustenance.

Ok … I’m just pretending to explain with confidence, right? Apparently, this is a practice ceremony to commemorate the “Birthday of the Buddha” in each individual. Don’t ask me what that means. For more information, please refer to this website:

https://www.phuket101.net/seven-buddha-postures/

Video around Bangkok City Pillar Shrine.

Remember about the cannon belonging to the Green Queen in the movie The Queen of Langkasuka? Let’s walk there now …… Ministry of Defense & Royal Thai Survey Department.