Villagers in Thai province resort to sculpting phallic structure to invoke rain

KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 — To call for rain, villagers at a central Thai province have resorted to sculpting an enormous penis.

The villagers, from Sai Yok district in Kanchanaburi province, made the 600 kg wooden structure to pray to Devas, also known as Buddhism angels, The Thaiger reported.

Called Palad Khik in Thai, the sculpture is normally made in smaller sizes so people can carry with them as an amulet to pray for protection against evil spirits or bring mercy and popularity to the carrier.

Speaking to a local television station, a villager who identified himself as Manote said most of the locals are farmers. The lack of rain of late had caused difficulties to them, prompting them to perform the ritual.

Manote claimed that after the ritual was conducted, there was rain but it was at the forest area.

“We wanted the Devas in heaven to pay attention to us and realise that we needed rain, so we crafted the huge wooden penis to make the Devas notice it,” he said.

Manote added rain would only fall in the areas indicated by the tip of the phallic sculpture, necessitating frequent adjustments to guide the rain to fall at the locations they want.

After it rained, villagers held a procession to parade the sculpture and to celebrate besides expressing their gratitude to Devas.

Besides penis sculptures, locals in the northeastern provinces of Thailand hold a rocket festival or engage in a parade of a cat to summon rain.