Like elsewhere in the world, the lottery is a big thing in Thailand. There are only two draws a month and the excitement and drama of choosing a lucky number results in some fascinating tales. The end-October draw was no exception. This time it was all about a half-human buffalo. I kid you not.
This week villagers in Srisaket’s Khun Han district have been flocking to pay their respects to the body of a buffalo calf. According to the local believers, this animal had what looked like a human face. But that's not all - it had the ability to transmit the winning numbers for the lottery draw.
As dutifully reported in the local newspaper, the calf died soon after birth, but not before its' owners noticed that it looked like a person. The farmers - whose names mean Smile and Think - said it had human-like nose, mouth and ears. Its legs were spreadeagled, resembling a sleeping person. However, without thinking more of it, they buried the corpse in a field.
That night the farmer's wife had a dream and her ancestors told her from beyond the grave that she should dig up the calf and conduct a religious ceremony for it. The calf was exhumed and the ceremony was duly performed.
But word had spread about this amazing animal and villagers flocked to catch a glimpse of it as it lay in "state" in the farmer's house. People brought flowers and money. Others dusted it with powder and asked the calf to make a lucky number appear in their mind so that they could win the upcoming lottery. And, due to some lucky gamblers, a legend was born.
This week villagers in Srisaket’s Khun Han district have been flocking to pay their respects to the body of a buffalo calf. According to the local believers, this animal had what looked like a human face. But that's not all - it had the ability to transmit the winning numbers for the lottery draw.
As dutifully reported in the local newspaper, the calf died soon after birth, but not before its' owners noticed that it looked like a person. The farmers - whose names mean Smile and Think - said it had human-like nose, mouth and ears. Its legs were spreadeagled, resembling a sleeping person. However, without thinking more of it, they buried the corpse in a field.
That night the farmer's wife had a dream and her ancestors told her from beyond the grave that she should dig up the calf and conduct a religious ceremony for it. The calf was exhumed and the ceremony was duly performed.
But word had spread about this amazing animal and villagers flocked to catch a glimpse of it as it lay in "state" in the farmer's house. People brought flowers and money. Others dusted it with powder and asked the calf to make a lucky number appear in their mind so that they could win the upcoming lottery. And, due to some lucky gamblers, a legend was born.
Not everyone was a believer, though. A senior monk from the local temple, was reported to be "dubious" about conducting a Buddhist ritual around the rotting corpse of a buffalo. "Nowhere in Buddhist canon is there anything about the need to pay respects to animal ," the monk allegedly said. “The Buddhist people of Srisaket should not be gullible. I would like to remind them that it is best to conduct their lives in strict accordance with the teachings of the Buddha.”That's all and well, but in this small village the tale of the half-human buffalo will live on for many generations and remain another legend of how to dream up a lucky number for the lottery.
