Spiritual chanting rang throughout an Aberdeen restaurant yesterday morning in a ceremony held to wish good fortune and prosperity to the new establishment.
Five Buddhist monks led a sacred blessing at Thaikhun, which specialises in Thai street food, on the upper level of the Union Square shopping mall.
The group, dressed traditionally in orange robes and with shaved heads, came from Aberdeen’s Thai Buddharam Temple and Cultural Centre, and Edinburgh’s Dhammapratip Temple.
During the blessing ceremony at the Aberdeen restaurant, they led a series of prayers and holy water rituals in front of a crowd of 25 spectators. They were then presented with a banquet, consisting of boiled rice, sliced vegetables, and freshly cooked curries.
Kim Kaewkraikhot, owner and chef director of Thaikhun, which means “Your Thailand”, said: “The ceremony dates back to ancient times and is considered a spiritual blessing, offering good luck and best wishes for a new beginning – which could be a new home, new business, wedding, even a new car.
“The blessing offers the owner, staff and business good luck and prosperity for a happy and successful future.”
Mrs Kaewkraikho started her culinary career as a street food hawker in Bangkok.
The Aberdeen restaurant is the 11th Thai food eatery she and her business partner, Martin Stead, have established throughout the UK since 2004.
She said she was amazed by her company’s success in the UK, and delighted to launch the first Scottish Thaikhun in Aberdeen.
“We want it to be like a trip to Thailand without the cost of a plane ticket,” she explained.
“The food is the centre of it all – a real taste explosion.”