End of Look Thep mania: ‘Child Angels’ dumped as orphans at temple

Around 20 Look Thep dolls, which were still a popular craze just a week ago, have reportedly been dumped at a temple on the outskirts of Bangkok as their owners presumably started to feel embarrassed about carrying around a doll.

Sarawuth Pailonrin, the temple’s warden, said Look Thep owners have been leaving their spirit dolls at the temple after the once-popular doll fad was heavily criticized by skeptics.

“Some people don’t feel comfortable [keeping Look Thep] anymore so they dumped the dolls under our Bodhi tree. Some came at night. Some talked to the abbot, who allowed them to leave the dolls here,” Sarawuth told Thairath TV.

Other than abandoning the Look Thep out of embarrassment, Sarawuth said he believed some doll owners had dumped the dolls when they did not help them succeed, or simply because they could not afford the maintenance costs of keeping the child angel.

Some Thais believe the superstitious objects have a child’s spirit in them and worship the dolls for wealth and luck.

Look Thep owners raise the dolls as their own child — which includes feeding them, buying them clothes, and taking them out in public.

Just like any superstitious objects, they cannot just be thrown away, so believers have chosen to leave them in the care of the temple.

Maybe it’s time we go back to cradling Furbies?

Related:

No fly zone: ‘Look Thep’ dolls cannot fly as passengers, say aviation officials