--- description: "They believe if they take care of the 'luk thep' doll, luck will come to them" title: Thailand's Intriguing 'Luk Thep' Doll Culture image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt912d6d807ab70684/698895d2ab6d7750a46a9eb4/luke-thep-facebook.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [LightBox](/tag/time-section-lightbox/) ## LightBox Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Thailand's Intriguing _Luk Thep_ Doll Culture by [Kenneth Bachor](/author/kenneth-bachor/) ## Kenneth Bachor Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jun 3, 2016 8:00 AM CUT  Amanda Mustard by [Kenneth Bachor](/author/kenneth-bachor/) ## Kenneth Bachor Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jun 3, 2016 8:00 AM CUT The phenomenon of Thailand’s _luk thep_ dolls reached viral status in January 2016, when Thai Smile Airways started to allow passengers to purchase seats and meals for their realistic dolls. _Luk thep_, which translates to _child angel_, resemble American Girl, or [Reborn dolls](http://www.bjp-online.com/2015/10/exploring-the-world-of-the-reborn-babies-and-the-women-who-collect-them/ "undefined"), and have become an intriguing part of Thai culture to the outside world. “If you want good fortune for your business or family,” says Bangkok-based photojournalist Amanda Mustard, who has been documenting _luk thep_’s popularity, “\[the owners\] believe if they take care of the _luk thep_ doll, luck will come to them.” There are various degrees to an owner’s participation, some will simply keep the doll in their business and not take it home, whereas others go as far as feeding and changing their dolls, hiring a babysitter, and setting up group playdates, according to Mustard. Certain restaurants in Thailand have even offered a special _luk thep_ menu, with [meals for the dolls](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35416537 "undefined"). It’s difficult to point out when the popularity of _luk thep_ exactly started. Last year, Thai radio personality DJ Bookko [began to include](http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/21/asia/thailand-angel-dolls/ "undefined") his _luk thep_ doll Wan Sai during public appearances and on social media. A central figure in the _luk thep_ movement has been Mama Ning, a woman who claims to be the mother of _luk thep_ — and who allegedly started the trend around five years ago. Her followers, who she refers to as disciples, are a group of about a dozen women who follow her leadership and teachings in _luk thep_. Ning is also one of the people that makes the dolls and customizes them, before people adopt the dolls from her. Adoption is seen as a spiritual process, in which Ning matches the owners with their _luk thep_, Mustard observed. To certain _luk thep_ owners, the dolls can be seen as a source for a family to stay focused, and as something therapeutic to overcome obstacles and addictions, such as alcoholism. Historically, lucky symbols and items have been a large part of Thai traditions and [ancient folklore](http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/what-kuman-thong-roasted-foetus-thailand-342793 "undefined"). Similar to _luk thep_ dolls, [_kuman thong_](http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/05/big-inthailand-fake-children/476400/ "undefined"), which were once made from stillborn-baby bodies, are figurines that if treated well, will bring good luck to their owner. “There’s a lot of overlap with animism, Taoism and Hinduism, which is where the _luk thep_ come in,” says Mustard. “Many people wear amulets for various purposes of bringing good fortune and merit and I think the _luk thep_ dolls are just an extension of that.” Mustard recalls her first sighting of one of the dolls when she walking through a parking lot. “I thought this woman in front of me was carrying a baby,” she says. “I was taken aback seeing that it was actually a doll.” Seeming to notice the dolls more often, it piqued her interest: “I just wanted to know more for myself, and it grew into this project.” In March 2016, Mustard had the opportunity to attend Mama Ning’s _wai khru_ ceremony, which is a traditional gathering in Thai culture where students pay respects to their teacher. There, she met a family that had just adopted a doll named Natalie. “It was a husband and wife and they brought their son, who was maybe 8 or 9 with them,” she says. “The family said they recently got Natalie, because they wanted to have a daughter and they couldn’t, so this was helping them.” But, with the increased media attention, the _luk thep_ community has experienced a backlash with some Thai people suggesting that the doll owners were mentally ill. Everyday sightings of the dolls have become increasingly rare, with additional claims from Thai police that the dolls may be used by Thai drug smugglers, the _Economist_ [reports](http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21689637-craze-haunted-dolls-starts-moral-panic-dolls-bring-luckand-drugs "undefined"). “For whatever reason \[the owners\] may not be interested in taking care of the _luk thep_ anymore. They often turn the dolls over to a temple,” says Mustard as any objects that might have held a spirit can’t be discarded. [**_Amanda Mustard_**](http://www.amandamustard.com "undefined") _is a photographer based in Bangkok. She is a founding member of the Koan Collective, a group of emerging photographers pursuing careers in a changing media landscape through collaboration and collegial support._ **_Kenneth Bachor_** _is TIME’s associate photo editor, overseeing entertainment and culture._  Millionaire, one of Mama Ning's favorite Luk Thep dolls on March 17, 2016. Amanda Mustard  A couple shops for shoes for their Luk Thep doll at an outdoor market in Nakhon Sawan, Thailand on Feb. 10, 2016. Amanda Mustard  A woman holds her Luk Thep doll, named Diamond Woman, while waiting at a bus stop in Nakhon Sawan, Thailand on Feb. 14, 2016. Amanda Mustard  A photo on Mama Ning's cell phone, taken at an airport, shows Ning's two favorite Luk Thep dolls on a trip on March 17, 2016. Amanda Mustard  Attendees of Mama Ning's wai khru ceremony line up with their Luk Thep dolls for blessings in Bangkok on March 21, 2016. Amanda Mustard  Mama Ning, right, takes photos with her followers before her wai khru ceremony begins in Bangkok on March 21, 2016. Amanda Mustard  Mama Ning blesses those who have adopted dolls from her in Bangkok on March 21, 2016. Amanda Mustard  A medium, seen leaning, and Mama Ning's followers take part in a wai khru ceremony in Bangkok on March 21, 2016. Amanda Mustard  A woman surrounded by Luk Thep dolls prays on March 21, 2016. Amanda Mustard  A woman named Pita feeds her Luk Thep doll Natalie coconut ice cream on March 21, 2016. Amanda Mustard  Luk Thep dolls are dressed for a wai khru ceremony in Bangkok on March 21, 2016. Amanda Mustard  Mama Ning straightens family photos in the living room of her home in Bangkok on March 17, 2016. Amanda Mustard  Handmade shoes are placed on a Luk Thep doll's feet in preparation for an event on March 17, 2016. Amanda Mustard  Two of Mama Ning's Luk Thep dolls in her home on March 17, 2016. Amanda Mustard  A Luk Thep doll dressed in a Christmas outfit is kept on a street stall by its owner to bring fortune to their business in Bangkok on Dec. 6, 2015. Amanda Mustard ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4353544/thailand-luk-thep-doll/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4353544/thailand-luk-thep-doll/"},"headline":"Thailand's Intriguing Luk Thep Doll Culture","datePublished":"2016-06-03T08:00:09.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:39:50.395Z","description":"\"They believe if they take care of the luk thep doll, luck will come to them\"","url":"https://time.com/4353544/thailand-luk-thep-doll/","keywords":["LightBox","Thailand","photography","portfolio"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt912d6d807ab70684/698895d2ab6d7750a46a9eb4/luke-thep-facebook.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Kenneth Bachor","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/kenneth-bachor/"}],"articleSection":"World","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt912d6d807ab70684/698895d2ab6d7750a46a9eb4/luke-thep-facebook.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"luke-thep-facebook","caption":"","creditText":"Amanda Mustard","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/world/","name":"World"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-lightbox/","name":"LightBox"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4353544/thailand-luk-thep-doll/","name":"Thailand's Intriguing Luk Thep Doll Culture"}}]}] ```