Angel Dolls Or "Luuk Thep", A Hit Among Deeply Superstitious Thais

BANGKOK, Feb 2 (Bernama) -- In recent months, the deeply superstitious Thais have been engaging in a debate over toddler-sized dolls called Angel Dolls or "Luuk Thep", with the local and international media giving spirited coverage to the issue. Proponents of the latest craze to hit the Buddhist country say the dolls possess supernatural power to bring good luck, making them wealthier at a time when the local economy is not doing so well, besides soothing fragile emotions. The opposing side say the expensive dolls, fetching up to US$2,804 (100,000 baht) each, indicate the owners' insecurity and their state of mental health, besides deviating from Buddha's teachings. Despite all the brouhaha over the dolls, for the "parents" or owner of the doll, as long as they believe it brings them luck and happiness, the "Luuk Thep" is here to stay for a forseeable period. "Luuk Thep" owner Nittaya Sooksena, 29, a local administrative officer, told Bernama that besides the cuteness of the dolls, she also believed in superstitions and that the blessed dolls could bring luck. Her two-year-old "Luuk Thep" which she named "Namewarn" or "Sweet Drink" in Thai was bought for US$109.38 (3,900 baht) and has brought the desired luck in terms of tripling her monthly collagen dietary supplementary sales volume. "My 'child' brings me luck. Since I have her, my monthly collagen dietary supplement sales volume has been increasing, for example, from 100 packs per month to 300 before hitting 500 this month," she claimed. With her request for the increased sales volume fulfilled by her "child", Nittaya promised to reward her "Luuk Thep" with a US$89.74 (3,200 baht) gold necklace. Asked about her husband's thoughts on her owning a creepy child-like doll, Nittaya said he was quite agreeable to it and let "Namwarn" share their bed as well as having their meals together. "But my husband does not allow me to carry the doll around in public places, so I will leave the doll inside our car when we go out to eat," she said, adding that her other family members were not totally agreeable to her having the doll but did not oppose it. Thai Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-chan also weighed in the hotly-debated discussion when he commented recently for Thai society to decide whether the Angel Dolls were something real or not. His opinion on the Angel Doll issue gripping Thailand came after a local airline gave permission for the purchase of air tickets for "Luuk Thep" and asked its employees to treat them as real passengers, serving food and beverages. A monk in Nonthaburi, according to the local media, had also performed a mass blessing of the dolls, sprinkling them with holy water and inscribing with holy scriptures. A prominent academician, Jessada Denduangboripant from Chulalongkorn University, said from science's point of view, the dolls did not possess any supernatural power but if it brought happiness to the owners, the fad should not be opposed. Nevertheless, the popularity of Angel Dolls among certain sections of Thai society, indicated certain weaknesses, he told Bernama. "The Luuk Thep's popularity actually indicates two things in our (Thai) society. Firstly, it shows weakness in science and the strength of one's faith as real Buddhism doesn't teach supernatural stuff," he said. On whether he would allow his students to bring their "Luuk Thep" into class during tutorials, Jessada said he would not forbid them as long as they gave their fullest concentration in class. --BERNAMA