Sembawang Hungry Ghost Festival devotees strike over $1 million after “true number” 2250 wins 4D first prize
Talk about good fortune. Nearly 100 devotees who attended a Hungry Ghost Festival event in Sembawang collectively won more than $1 million after a “true number” given during the celebration turned out to be the 4D first prize.
One of the biggest winners walked away with about $600,000.
How it happened
The Hungry Ghost Festival association at Block 503 Canberra Link has been setting up a deity altar every year during the seventh lunar month. On the night of Aug 22, a devotee, with the approval of the temple leader, drew a four-digit number through divination.
The number given was 2250.
The association then displayed the number publicly, and many devotees and even passersby went on to buy 4D tickets.
The very next day, Aug 23, 2250 came out as the first prize.
Average winnings around $4,000
A committee member told that almost everyone present that night placed bets on the number. On average, each person won about $4,000.
Some devotees who placed combination bets won over $2,000, while others took home bigger sums. One person who bet $2 on “big” and $3 on “small” pocketed $13,000. Another ticket brought in $25,000.
The largest winner received over $600,000.
The committee member shared that while the altar has been around for 13 years, and devotees have seen winning numbers before, this was the first time the exact number appeared as the top prize the very next day.
87-year-old devotee donates 4D winnings
Among the winners was 87-year-old Madam Lian, who struck $10,000. Instead of keeping it all, she donated a portion to dishwashers at a nearby coffee shop, cleaners, and migrant workers.
“At my age, I just want good health. Money can go to those who need it more,” she said.
She added that she usually placed the smallest bets in previous years. But this time, she decided to bet a little more, and it paid off. |