Content #064

The Erawan Shrine. Bangkok, Thailand 2010
‘The Erawan Shrine, formally the Thao Maha Phrom Shrine (Thai: ศาลท้าวมหาพรหม; RTGS: San Thao Maha Phrom; ‘shrine of Lord Maha Brahma’), is a shrine in Bangkok, Thailand, which houses a statue of Phra Phrom, the Thai representation of Brahma, the Hindu god of creation. The name might also refer to Mahabrahma, the ruler of the Brahma realm in Buddhist cosmology. The deity is popularly worshipped outside of a Hindu religious context, but more as a representation of guardian spirits in Thai animist beliefs. The shrine often features performances by Thai dance troupes who are hired by worshippers in return for seeing their prayers answered at the shrine. The shrine is near the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel, at the Ratchaprasong intersection of Ratchadamri Road in Lumphini Subdistrict, Pathum Wan District. It is near the BTS Skytrain’s Chit Lom Station, which has an elevated walkway overlooking the shrine. The area has many shopping malls nearby, including Gaysorn, CentralWorld, and Amarin Plaza. On 17 August 2015, at 18:55 local time, an explosive device composed of three kilograms of TNT stuffed in a metal pipe and wrapped in white cloth inside a backpack was detonated near the Erawan Shrine, killing 20 bystanders and injuring 125. Bomb disposal units checked two other suspicious objects but found no more bombs. An analyst with IHS Jane’s suggested the attack had been carried out by the Pan-Turkic Turkish ultra-nationalist organization Grey Wolves in retaliation for the Thai government’s deporting Uyghur terrorist suspects to China, instead of allowing them to accept asylum offered to them by Turkey. The bomb had been placed in the shrine grounds next to a metal railing. The statue itself was slightly damaged. Within two days all repairs had been completed and the shrine reopened. However, the government’s swift reopening of the shrine has been subject to criticism. The government’s apparent lack of progress in the investigation stimulated critics to propose a number of theories over the bombing, including even elements of the government itself. Beginning March 2020, incense and candles were no longer allowed to be lit at the shrine, due to health and environmental concerns.’ Bron: Wikipedia.