Anchor's "healing powers" draw Cambodian pilgrims

Monsters and critics
Feb 14, 2012,

Phnom Penh - A 19th century ship's anchor has become a draw for Cambodian pilgrims who believe it has healing powers, local media reported Tuesday.

The 2.5-metre-long anchor, inscribed with the date 1883, was bought from a local fisherman by 43-year-old Chan Vanna last week, the Cambodia Daily reported. She claims the object is magical and that a mysterious pain in her arm disappeared after she prayed to it.

The anchor is now being kept in the capital's Prachum Sakor pagoda and is attracting up to 200 worshippers a day, the newspaper said.

'I have arthritis, so I came here to pray,' 60-year-old Dang Sitha was quoted as saying.

Pagoda abbot Chea Soksinath does not think the anchor has magical powers but said he could not ban people from believing in it. 'They have the right,' he said.

An officer from the government's heritage protection department was due to evaluate the anchor's authenticity.