A Bangkok-based content creator has shown a unique way in which some devotees worship Lord Ganesha in Thailand. Instead of offering the laddus and modaks commonly seen at Indian shrines, devotees at one Bangkok shrine leave cups of bubble tea for the elephant-headed deity.
Piya Ping, who lives in Bangkok, shared the clip on Instagram around Ganesh Chaturthi. The video was recorded at a Ganesha shrine outside Union Mall, a popular shopping destination in the Thai capital. Several cups of boba milk tea can be seen placed around the idol.
Bangkok Devotees Offer Bubble Tea At Ganesha Shrine
Explaining the practice, Piya compared it with the traditional offerings associated with Ganesha in India. “I know that we are supposed to offer Ganesha his favorite snack, Laddu, but over here in Bangkok, Thailand,
we offer this, bubble tea,” she said.
She then showed the shrine located outside Union Mall and the drinks placed there by devotees. “I’m here at Union Mall, one of Bangkok’s well-known shopping malls, and just outside the mall, there’s a shrine dedicated to Ganesha. And yes, people actually bring bubble milk tea here as an offering,” Piya revealed.
The clip showed several large plastic cups filled with boba milk tea around the shrine. A guide near the shrine also pointed visitors towards different floors inside the mall where various bubble tea brands are available. This allows devotees to buy the drink they like before bringing it to the shrine.
Bubble tea, also called boba tea, is usually made with tea and milk and contains chewy tapioca pearls. It is widely popular in Thailand, making it a familiar choice for local devotees. Piya also explained that some people offer more cups when a wish they made to Ganesha comes true.
Some Devotees Increase The Offering When Wishes Come True
“And the reason behind it is because some devotees believe that when their wish comes true, they should come back and offer more than they did before. So from 3 becomes 6, from 6 becomes 12,” she explained.
According to Piya, the number of cups can keep increasing when devotees return to the shrine after their wishes are fulfilled. In some cases, the offering can reportedly reach as many as 200 cups. She described the custom as a local version of devotion that combines a familiar Thai drink with a religious tradition.
“People offer something they enjoy and something meaningful to them. This is a traditional belief with a very Thai twist,” she said. Piya captioned her Instagram post: “One of Ganesha’s shrines in Bangkok, we offer this..”
Lord Ganesha Has A Strong Presence In Bangkok
Lord Ganesha is widely seen in Bangkok, where Hindu shrines can be found alongside Buddhist temples and other religious sites. The deity is particularly associated with success, creativity and professional goals.
Thailand’s tourism authorities have highlighted the Ganesha shrine near Bangkok’s CentralWorld shopping complex as a place visited by artists, students and business owners who seek inspiration and success.
The deity is also part of the shrine culture in the Ratchaprasong area of Bangkok. The area has several Hindu shrines that attract Thai worshippers as well as visitors from countries such as India, China, Malaysia and Indonesia.
These shrines are also an example of how Hindu religious traditions have become part of daily life in parts of Bangkok. Ganesha is also worshipped outside the capital. Chachoengsao, a province east of Bangkok, is known for a prominent Ganesha image and is promoted by Thailand’s tourism authorities as a destination connected with the deity.
Viewers Say Devotion Matters More Than The Offering
The bubble tea offering received mostly positive reactions from viewers. Many said the type of food or drink offered was less important than the feelings and devotion behind it.
One Instagram user wrote: “He will accept whatever is offered to him with devotion.. He is the type of god who is more of a friend than a god.”
Another viewer joked about the usual sweets offered to Ganesha, writing: “Lord Ganesha might get bored with just ladoos and modaks. Good on you guys for adding variety.”
A person shared a similar experience from the US, saying they had also offered something different to the deity. “I live in Seattle, I gave him an apple donut yesterday. I get concerned that maybe he needs a variety of treats! I offer him anything that seems nice,” the person wrote.
Another viewer connected the drink with Ganesha’s well-known love for sweets, commenting: “Well he is quite famous for having a sweet tooth. So boba checks.”
An Indian Hindu who grew up in Bangkok also spoke positively about how devotion is expressed in Thailand. “Growing up in Bangkok as an Indian Hindu, amongst Thai Buddhists, I’ve just loved their way of devotion. You very well said – we offer what we love and that’s the purity of Dharma/Dhamma,” the user commented.
Disclaimer: This article is based on user-generated content. The claims made in the original post have not been independently verified by News18.
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