Bangkok (AP) – To the sound of Brahmin horns and amid colorful pageantry, King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun presided over an annual ceremony Friday marking the start of the rice-planting season.
HM the King watched, his daughter HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha at his side, as two oxen named “Increase” and “Abundance” plowed a furrow around a section of the Sanam Luang ceremonial ground in front of the Grand Palace in Bangkok. An official scattered rice seeds in the oxen’s wake.
According to Thai historical accounts, the Royal Plowing Ceremony dates back around 700 years. Then as now, the success of the harvest is vital to the economy but also to the culture of the country. Thailand is one of the world’s leading producers of rice, at around 30 million tons a year. It is also the world’s second largest exporter of rice, behind India.
As part of the ceremony, the oxen are offered seven types of food to eat and predictions are made as to the success of the coming harvest depending on which foods they choose.
On Friday, the pair of animals munched down rice, maize and grass, meaning there will be plenty of food, fruit and water for irrigation.
Permanent Secretary for Agriculture and Cooperatives Theerapat Prayurasiddhi served as this year’s Phraya Raekna, or Lord of the Ceremony. He drew a cloth with a length of five Kueb, or five hand spans, leading to a prediction by court astrologers that water would be at the appropriate amount and crops would be abundant.
As Royal Ploughing Day has also been designated as Farmers’ Day, His Majesty the King, on this occasion, bestowed plaques of honor on outstanding agriculturists, agriculture institutes, agricultural cooperatives and wise men.
The Brahmin rites, led by Hindu priests and the first to be presided over by His Majesty as King, were attended by the prime minister, Cabinet members and diplomats as well as farmers seeking signs of good fortune.
