Deputy Prime sMinister Surakiart Sathirathai, as the chief of the committee overseeing the Thao Maha Phrom statue's restoration, said after a meeting with related organisations yesterday that the ritual to mould the new statue and recite incantations would be performed in both Buddhist and Brahman styles.

During the rites, after making merit to the creators of the old Thao Maha Phrom statue, the officials will open the base of the shrine and the pieces of the original statue will be crushed into a powder and placed inside, he said.

Preecha Kantiya, director-general of the Religious Department, said officials had started making a model of the new statue, which will take about 45 days.

It would then take 15 days to manufacture.

The new statue will then be placed at the Erawan Shrine at Ratchaprasong intersection, Surakiart said.

A man with a history of mental illness smashed the old statue to pieces with a hammer on Tuesday.

Surakiart said the Foundation of Thao Maha Phrom was willing to shoulder the restoration costs, but people could donate towards the restoration at provincial cultural centres across the country.

People living abroad can approach their nearest Thai embassy or consulate to hand in their donations.

The new statue will have round-the-clock guards protecting it.