Thai taxi drivers turn to holy amulets to protect them from coronavirus

The tradition of collecting, buying and selling the amulets is so popular that Bangkok even has a dedicated market in its historic quarter

The government has shut the market whenever Covid-19 infections have spiked, due to the bazaar’s popularity among older Thais

2-MIN READ2-MIN

Taxi driver Wasan Sukjit shows off his protective Buddhist amulets. Photo: AFP

Published: 1:59pm, 15 May 2021Updated: 8:49pm, 15 May 2021

After muttering a prayer, Thai taxi driver Sopee Silpakit strings a chain of amulets around his neck then jumps behind the wheel – buoyed by the peace of mind the ritual gives him against Covid-19.

The 65-year-old’s job driving a cab in Bangkok puts him in contact daily with the public, and his way of life is now plagued with worry, with the Thai capital the epicentre of a third wave.

“I pray to these amulets every day: ‘Don’t let the virus come near me,’” he says. “I really do believe that they could protect me from the virus and keep me in good health.”

Buddhist-majority Thailand has a deeply superstitious culture, with much of the population steeped in the belief that luck and good fortune can be accrued through blessed objects.

Wasan Sukjit hangs a cloth with Buddhist prayers and symbols above the drivers’ seat of his car. Photo: AFP

Some spiritual fads are fuelled by the media, like the hyper-realistic “child angel” dolls. But collecting amulets cuts across different demographics – it is not uncommon to see an entrepreneur wearing them underneath their polo shirt.