THAILAND, May 1, 2006: The restored image of the four-faced Lord Brahma will be reinstalled at its Erawan Shrine at Ratchaprasong Intersection in the next 10 days, said caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Culture Minister Surakiat Sathirathai yesterday morning, following an inspection of the progress of the repairs to the holy Deity, which was completely destroyed by a mentally ill man on March 20. “I’d like to publicize [the event] and invite faithful Thais and foreigners to join the ceremony together in the next 10 days,” said Surakiat. The auspicious date and time for the installation ceremony will be computed by brahmans and experts after the restored image of the famous four-face Hindu deity, which is made from the remains of the old Deity, is covered with gold leaf. On that day, the image of Brahma, locally known as Than Tao Mahaprom, will be carried to the Erawan Shrine in an elaborately decorated car procession that will pass several significant places in Bangkok like the City Shrine, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Giant Swing, to allow people to worship it. Following the installation, the Culture Ministry will carry out a gold-casting ceremony for the production of another image of Brahma that will be made from auspicious nine metals and kept at the National Museum. The image of Brahma was originally built in 1956 with plaster and covered with gold leaf. It is deeply respected by Thais and foreigners.
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