Good harvest, abundant food predicted
Bountiful rice yields, an abundance of food and a fair amount of water were predicted for the coming crop year at the Royal Ploughing Ceremony yesterday.
Posted 14 May 2011, by Staff, The Bangkok Post, bangkokpost.com
Bountiful rice yields, an abundance of food and a fair amount of water were predicted for the coming crop year by soothsayers at the Royal Ploughing Ceremony at Sanam Luang on Friday.
The ancient ceremony, which has been performed since the Sukhothai period some 700 years ago, was held in the morning to mark the beginning of the traditional rice planting season and boost the morale of farmers.
On behalf of His Majesty the King, HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn presided over the ceremony, accompanied by His Royal Consort HRH Princess Srirasmi, and HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha.
Two sacred white oxen, named Phra Ko Fah and Phra Ko Sai, were taken to plough the ceremonial ground at Sanam Luang, herded by agriculture and cooperatives permanent secretary Chalermporn Pirunsarn.
Dressed as a Brahmin god, Mr Chalermporn served in the ceremony as Lord of the Plough, or Phraya Raek Na.
Mr Chalermpol’s choice of a piece of cloth led to a prediction that there would be a fair amount of water, bountiful rice yields and an abundance of food.
The oxen were each then offered seven bowls of food and their choices were used to make the predictions.
The seven dishes were grass, paddy, maize, sesame seeds, soy bean, water and liquor.
The oxen ate grass, giving a forecast that the country would enjoy an average water supply, plentiful rice yields, and an abundance of fruits and staple foods this year.
The oxen also drank liquor, giving a prediction that communications would be convenient, foreign trade would flourish, and the economy would prosper.
At the ceremony, rewards were given to outstanding farmers, agricultural organisations, cooperatives, and farming scholars.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/236887/good-harvest-abundant-food-predicted
