Royal Ploughing Ceremony
The Royal Ploughing Ceremony is an
ancient rite observed in Thailand to mark the traditional beginning of the
rice-growing ceremony. It takes place during the sixth Thai lunar month, but
the actual date of the ceremony is not fixed exactly. It has to be announced by
the astrologers at the Bureau of the Royal Household. Once it has been
announced, the Cabinet will approve a public holiday for that date. This public
holiday is also sometimes referred to as Thai Farmer�s Day.
The
ceremony has Brahminic origins, dating back to a period before Buddhism, but
under King Rama IV a Buddhist component to the ceremony was added. By the 1920s
the ceremony had been discontinued, but it was revived by the present King
Bhumipol Adulyadej in 1960. The ceremony takes place in Bangkok, at the Sanam
Luang, the field in front of the Grand palace and the Temple of the Emerald
Buddha. In Thai, the ceremony is known as Kan Phuet Cha Mongkon. It is presided over by either the King or, more recently, Crown
Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. There is also present a Brahmin master of
ceremonies known as the Lord of the Festival.
At the
beginning of the ploughing ceremony the Lord of the Festival
is asked to select one of three pieces of cloth from a covered tray. Depending
on the length of the cloth chosen, a prediction is then made regarding the
rainfall that can be expected that year. After this, two sacred oxen are yoked
to a wooden plough and three concentric and three parallel furrows are
ploughed. Into these are scattered rice seeds grown in fields at the royal
palace. The rice seeds are carried by four women in golden baskets. After their
work, the oxen are given some welcome refreshment. They can choose from, among
other things, rice seeds, sesame, hay, green beans, water and rice-whiskey.
What they choose to eat or drink is used as the basis for predictions for the
coming year. For example, if they choose the rice-whiskey this is said to be a
good omen for the communications, finance and the economy. After the ceremony
members of the public rush in to collect the rice seeds. These are thought to
have great auspicious properties, particularly by Thai farmers, who mix them in
with their own seeds. Some of the seeds are also distributed to farmers in
other provinces of Thailand. The colorful ploughing ceremony is open to the
public and is always broadcast live on Thai television.
Adapted from : http://chiangmaibest.com/royal-ploughing-ceremony/