BANGKOK — Mix one part superstition, two parts fashion, a dab of celebrity idolatry and a heap of media frenzy, and what do you get?
The “child angel” dolls, the latest craze in Thailand. They occupy a niche somewhere between Buddhist amulets, beloved by gamblers, gangsters and policemen for their reputed magical protective powers, and Furby dolls, adored by children for their cuteness.
They will, their adult owners affirm, bring you good luck, especially if you treat them like your own living progeny, taking them along on trips, treating them to meals and praying together at the temple.
While “luk thep” dolls, as they are known in Thai, have previously drawn only mild notice beyond the circle of their devoted collectors, they dominated the news this past week after a leaked memo from budget airline Thai Smile instructed staff to treat the dolls as if they were human passengers — provided, of course, their seats were paid for.
The airline took note of the creepiness factor, suggesting the dolls best be seated as much as possible out of the sight of other passengers.
In short order, several restaurants announced similar doll-friendly policies. Police, meanwhile, warned the dolls could be used to smuggle drugs and busted one figurine in which 200 methamphetamine tablets were concealed.
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What makes these dolls special is that they have been blessed by some Buddhist monks, who apply sacral markings to them, as they might with a new car or house. It’s not a strictly Buddhist practice, and at least one temple reportedly banned the doll blessings, but easygoing Thais aren’t fussy about blending Hindu ritual and other elements into their religion.
The dolls, mostly imports, cost anything from a few dozen to a few hundred dollars, with the blessings available on a similar sliding scale. Some are customized by sellers, and owners invariably gussy them up, with jewelry and other accessories, in anticipation of, or thanks for, good fortune.
The dolls have elements of a hobby, a cult and a business. Mental health authorities, while cautioning against superstitious practices, acknowledge their therapeutic utility as stress reducers.
Kanuengnit Chotichanachaiphat, 31, adopted her first doll two years ago on the recommendation of a friend who said it would bring her luck, and named it “Pa Ruay” (“Being Wealthy”). Kanuengnit, with part-time jobs as an events hostess and golf caddy, believes Pa Ruay helped increase her income just three months after she adopted him.
Now she has five dolls, and enjoys dressing them up, and doing their hair — so much so that she does hair modifications on other people’s dolls for 800-1,000 baht ($22-28) apiece.
The dolls provide some of the same satisfactions as a pet — minus the messiness — but it is their supernatural aspect that draws more attention and debate.
Aside from the awkwardness of carrying them around in one’s arms, they have much in common with traditional Buddhist amulets — coin-sized talismans with supposed magical powers that are usually worn around the neck.
Amulet collecting is a popular but old-fashioned hobby. Dolls are more popular with a younger, urban crowd, including celebrities and students.
It has been suggested that the dolls also have more macabre associations, or at least antecedents.
There is an ancient black magic rite known as “kuman thong,” which in its purest form involves taking a still born human fetus, drying it over a fire, and coating it with gold leaf. While stories emerge now and again of people trying to carry out the bizarre ritual, more commonly a kuman thong is reputed to merely contain a body part. But like luk thep dolls, they are supposed to be imbued with a child’s spirit.
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