Episode Details

In Bangkok, skyscrapers rise, traffic roars, and yet—everywhere you look—spirits still rule the land. In this episode, we step into Thailand’s vibrant world of spirit worship, where ancient beliefs aren’t just remembered but woven seamlessly into modern life. From ornate spirit houses tucked beside luxury condos to daily offerings left on busy sidewalks, these unseen guardians are treated as powerful neighbors who must be fed, honored, and kept content. Some Thais even credit the country’s low COVID-19 case counts to the spirits’ protection. Blending Buddhism, Hinduism, and deep-rooted animism, this living cosmology shapes how developers build, how families occupy their homes, and how the city understands its own fate. In Thailand, to take care of the spirits is to believe—they’ll take care of you.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/13/world/asia/bangkok-spirit-houses.html