Thai Buddhists write wishes on red cloth at Golden Mountain temple

2019-11-18 1

Buddhist devotees in Thailand flocked to the temple of the Golden mountain on November 13 to write their wishes on a giant red cloth.

The 256ft tall (78 metres) temple named Wat Saket is best known for its stunning golden dome and views over Bangkok, Thailand.

Each year, Buddhist monks drape a sacred red cloth around the peak or chedi of the Wat Saket.

Followers then brave humid temperatures to make the pilgrimage up more than 300 winding steps to the summit where they give cash donations and write their names and messages on the blessed cloth, hoping for luck, fortune and health in the coming year.

The festival takes place each year in the 12th lunar month and has become a huge draw for locals and tourists, who can take in the views from the top of the temple, which is one of the highest points in Bangkok.

The original temple dates back to the 18th century when it was built by King Rama I. Several years later, King Rama III constructed a manmade hill in the early 19th century and added a golden dome. It was then completed by King Rama V a few decades later.