Tears of relief as ‘missing’ gold found inside Buddha topknot

12 Sept 05:02 Key points summarised by AI

Foundry worker Woraphot Jittatham broke down in tears of relief after 50 baht-weight of gold was found inside a Buddha topknot he crafted, disproving viral claims it had gone missing.
Woraphot had endured years of intense pressure and scrutiny over allegations that the nearly 4 million baht (~US$113,000) worth of gold had disappeared during the casting process.
The controversy originated from a viral social media post and a gold shop test allegedly showing only 2% gold content, despite witnesses observing molten gold poured into the mold years prior.
A temple meeting agreed to cut open the sacred object, confirming the gold's presence and prompting the abbot to call on the initial gold shop to explain its misleading findings that damaged the temple's reputation.

Lamphun in a New Light

Today 15:02 Key points summarised by AI

Lamphun illuminates its ancient city with two concurrent light festivals: the high-tech VIJIT Thailand @ LAMPHUN and the traditional Hundred Thousand Lantern Festival.
VIJIT Thailand @ LAMPHUN transforms historic landmarks into an outdoor gallery, using projections and multimedia to animate Lamphun's history, including Queen Chamadevi's story.
The Hundred Thousand Lantern Festival, part of Yi Peng, fills temples and streets with countless traditional lanterns, symbolizing Buddhist devotion and personal wishes.
These festivals offer a unique after-dark experience, blending contemporary light art with centuries-old Lanna traditions, connecting visitors to Lamphun's past and faith.