Thais seamlessly fuse modernity with spirit beliefs. This ability is encapsulated at the frenetic, smoky Hindu shrine to Brahma, erected in 1956 to appease displaced spirits who were blamed for mishaps in building the old Erawan Hotel. Pilgrims gather here to make wishes. Those whose prayers have been granted usually return to make more offerings; many even pay for costumed dancers to perform. In 2006, a crazed (or well-paid) man smashed the statue and received instant karma: bystanders beat him to death. Thousands scrambled to see the restored image reinstalled. Erawan, historically, is the elephant mount of Indra, whose green statue outside neighbouring Amarin Plaza joins a circuit of Hindu shrines at Ratchaprasong.
Despite having witnessed—and survived—many momentous events throughout six decades, including political unrest and mishaps attributed to superstitious beliefs, this shrine to Brahma or The Creator still stands tall on the Ratchaprasong intersection and continues to attract a lot of worshippers all-year-round, including locals and tourists who come to pray for prosperity. The auspicious nature of this shrine is so renowned that even businessmen and entrepreneurs from other countries come all the way here to pay their respects to the god.