Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Hungry God

Phra Rahu is a Thai god originating from Hindu tradition whose image is sometimes displayed inside Bangkok taxi cabs. He's usually depicted on amulets, charms, and stickers, and cabbies here believe that he's lucky and can help bring in more Thai baht. If you're not familiar with this giant celestial being, you might think that he's nibbling on a cookie or chowing down on pizza. But according to folk beliefs that attempt to explain how eclipses occur, he's trying to eat the sun and the moon. We're talking about a serious case of indigestion here.