Superstitious Suvarnabhumi: People leave red Fanta for guardian giant at BKK airport

Photos: Prajya Aura-ek Phil/ Twitter
Photos: Prajya Aura-ek Phil/ Twitter

Maybe Thais have run out of shrines and haunted dolls to pray to, since the latest superstitious trend in Thailand involves one of the giant sculptures at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

As seen in these photos, which went viral this morning, people now leave bottles of unconsumed red Fanta at the base of the Suriyaphob sculpture, a mythical giant from the Thai epic Ramakien, who stands outside the toilets in the airport’s check-in area.

Photo: Prajya Aura-ek Phil/ Twitter

Oh my god.

It is unclear why the giant suddenly became the new object to pray to after all these years, but in case you don’t know, offering red Fanta to spirits and mythical creatures is a common practice in Thailand. Some say the modern offering of strawberry soda may have derived from the blood sacrifices of the past. But let’s hope the higher power isn’t offended by that.

Photo: Prajya Aura-ek Phil/ Twitter

Suriyaphob is one of the 12 guardian giants at the Bangkok airport. In the famous story, he has a pike as a weapon and is known for knocking out an enemy with one impressive pike throw. However, his enemy wakes up and kills him the next day.

Apparently, the airport also took takes their giants seriously. In 2009, they moved the giant sculptures from the arrival lounge to the check-in areas for better feng shui, or energy.



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