EARTH-GODDESS STATUE: Democrat icon puts on a show

Published on February 10, 2005

The Democrat Party’s symbolic statue of Mae Phra Thoranee, the Goddess of the Earth, is back in the news again.

The one-tonne bronze statue, seated outside the party’s headquarters and in the act of wringing water from her hair, is developing a reputation for bizarre occurrences.

The latest was earlier this week when former Democrat leader Chuan Leekpai was giving a media interview. He was facing questions about possible replacements for his successor, Banyat Bantadtan, who resigned after the party’s failure in Sunday’s general election.

The candle in front of the bronze goddess was burning normally. Then it suddenly flared for a while, then the flame died.

Even though Mae Phra Thoranee’s candle was burning again yesterday, the press was captivated that a symbol was behaving with such symbolic flourish.

It was not the first time. In November 2003 the party decided to replace the statue with a marble version. As it was being shifted, the 1.4 metre bronze slipped off its base, breaking off her ponytail.

Two months later, the marble replacement arrived, but it fell from its sling and broke into six pieces.

At the time party officials discounted bad omens. The bronze was remounted.

The goddess has been the party’s symbol for more than 50 years.

There is also a statue of the Goddess of the Earth at Sanam Luang, and it was there, after a rally by the Democrat’s first leader, Kwang Apaiwong, that the idea of making her the party’s symbol was born.

There was a heavy downpour during the rally, but hundreds of people remained to listen despite the weather. The Democrat Party pioneers considered that the goddess had protected them from disaster.

The present bronze statue was installed in a Brahman ceremony in 1992. She replaced an original statue.

Thanyaporn Kunakornpaiboonsiri

The Nation

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