Big Gold Ball

[kerryk]

I was at a Wat and they had a big gold ball suspended over a hole in the ground. They told me that they would lower it into the hole and bury it. What is the significance of that? What is if for? I know good luck but what is the story behind it?

[sabaijai]

I was at a Wat and they had a big gold ball suspended over a hole in the ground. They told me that they would lower it into the hole and bury it. What is the significance of that? What is if for? I know good luck but what is the story behind it?

Those are luuk nimit (ลูกนิมิต, literally 'marker balls') The ceremony you observed is called ngaan fang luuk nimit - งานฝังลูกนิมิต - or Burying the Marker Balls Celebration, and it can only be held once for any given wat, from what I understand.

There's a previous thread where the topic gets bandied about right here.

We never did settle whether the term refers to all the balls or just the 9th one ... I forgot to ask my neighbour,

[kerryk]

Yes that was it. Thank you very much