ABSTRACT

Hindu gods have been worshipped alongside the Lord Buddha and traditional spirits by Thai Theravada Buddhists for hundreds of years. During the past two decades there has been a spectacular boom in new forms of worship of Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of success and remover of obstacles. At these ostensibly religious events and festivals, Thai followers wear Indian clothing and consume Indian foods. Processions incorporate Indian music ensembles and dancers for accompaniment, entertainment and ambience. Through analysis of three Ganesha-sponsoring institutions, together with interviews and ethnography among both institution owners and patrons in Chiang Mai, Thailand, this article examines the role of Indian-tagged symbolic accoutrements as part of a religious experience for Thai people today. As this article argues, while Ganesha is central to the cult, and indeed, the main event, these accoutrements serve the dual purpose of creating a visual/visceral experience of cultural tourism of Indian-ness for Thai worshippers and catering to the needs of Ganesha as an Indian god in the eyes of Thais.

摘要

数百年来，泰国上座部佛教徒一直与佛陀和传统精神一起崇拜印度教诸神。在过去的二十年里，对象头神象头神象头神和排除障碍的新形式的崇拜出现了惊人的繁荣。在这些表面上是宗教活动和节日中，泰国追随者穿着印度服装并食用印度食品。游行包括印度音乐合奏团和舞者的伴奏、娱乐和氛围。通过对三个象头神赞助机构的分析，以及对泰国清迈机构所有者和赞助人的采访和民族志，本文研究了带有印度标签的象征性装备作为当今泰国人宗教体验的一部分的作用。正如这篇文章所论证的，