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Amanda Mustard

21 March 2016 - Mama Ning blesses those who have adopted dolls from her at her wai khru ceremony in Bangkok, a Thai ritual where students gather to pay respect to their teachers.

21 March 2016 – Mama Ning blesses those who have adopted dolls from her at her wai khru ceremony in Bangkok, a Thai ritual where students gather to pay respect to their teachers.

Thailand’s Child Angels
USA   www.amandamustard.com

Ostensibly a Buddhist country, Thailand exhibits a great degree of religious syncretism. Superstitions and spirits are a major part of everyday life. The newest trend of lucky charms is the luk thep, or child angel. Owners of luk thep believe that caring for their doll like the real child spirit that it holds, will bring them good fortune. Local media spun with sensational luk thep news, much of which harshly criticised the owners’ mental health. The trend has tapered since, with owners abandoning the dolls entirely or turning them over to temples.