The statues inside a Buddhist 'hell garden' have been given face masks to encourage visitors to protect themselves against the coronavirus pandemic.<br /><br />Footage shows the religious monument at a temple in Ang Thong, central Thailand. It includes graphic depictions of sinners being punished in the afterlife. <br /><br />Several of the demons are wearing face masks, widely believed to protect against Covid-19 transmission. While some of the 'sinners' have also been given them. <br /><br /><br />Buddhists believe that sinners who commit evil will encounter such punishments in the afterlife before they can be reborn. <br /><br />The temple garden is divided the area into three zones including the Buddha's journey, the Heaven and the most graphic section - the Buddhist hell, also known as Naraka.<br /><br />The temple manager Treenet Mekraksakit, 76, said they want to urge the visitors to be aware of the 'new normal' in the tourism industry.<br /><br />He said: "The pandemic has changed the ways of many things including tourism and the temple wanted the visitor to be aware of this new way.<br /><br />"So we have covered our ghoul sculptures with face mask so visitors will be reminded that they should wear them as well."<br /><br />Buddhists believe that sinners who commit evil will encounter such punishments in the afterlife before they can be reborn. <br /><br />Temple hell gardens are divided the area into three zones including the Buddha's journey, the Heaven and the most graphic section - the Buddhist hell, also known as Naraka.
