Thailand's Royal ploughing ceremony predicts abundant food, average water

Thailand’s Royal ploughing ceremony predicts abundant food, average water

May 9th, 2008 by admin

Royal ploughing ceremony predicts abundant food, average water

Thailand’s traditional soothsayers predicted an abundance of food production during the coming year, and an average supply of water — with plentiful rice yields — in the royal ploughing ceremony, marking the beginning of the planting season on Friday.

The ceremony was presided over by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn; Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasm, Royal Consort to His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn; and Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana.

Permanent Secretary for Public Health Charanthada Kannasuta, who served in the Brahman ceremony from ancient India as the Lord of the Plough, was offered three pieces of folded cloth of different lengths and he selected one of medium length. Based on his selection, average water supply, with plentiful food and rice were predicted.

The sacred oxen ate rice and grass and the Brahmin seers said there would be abundance of food and average water.

The royal ploughing ceremony is a Brahmanic rite, in which sacred oxen plough a furrow at the ceremonial ground of Sanam Luang. Four consecrated ladies carry gold and silver baskets filled with rice seed, which they scatter into the newly-ploughed furrow. Walking alongside the plough are Brahmans who are chanting and blowing conch shells.

The ceremony has been performed in Thailand since the Sukhothai period, some 700 years ago.

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