Thailand episode 2: Shrine of the Household God

If you visit Thailand, you must see at least once a kind of small Thai-style house on a pillar, usually situated in an angle of the street or in a garden. You should also see some tiny statues of Gods and sometimes dancers in traditional costumes inside. They are not for decoration at all. A kind of altar or table is set in front of it for a specific purpose. I'm going to show you a picture of the shrine of the Household God in front of my parents' house. The inhabitants in the street settled it together when I was a child. I still remember the event and the celebration of the monks.

This is a Buddhist belief; that there're spirits wandering anywhere, in any streets and the houses need a protection from a deity, so people should set up the shrine where the god is invited to stay. The inhabitants in the street regularly offer some food, fruits, flowers and lighten incenses and candles so as to pay respect to the god. Since I was a child, I was used to pay respect to the household god and to ask the god to protect me and to help me everytime I had a school exam, a job interview or in any other situations when I needed a mental support. I'm writing about the shrine because it had been one thing that accompanied my life when I lived in Bangkok!