[Sx1qBli0]

(I was trying to post an article on this last Tuesday when my internet went down-for the next 2 days! )

Ancient Royal ploughing ceremony predicts abundant food, proper amount of water The sacred oxen, Fah and Sai Oxen are guided by royal attendants during Royal Ploughing ceremonies held in Bangkok on 11 May.

AP Photos by Sakchai Lalit
Thailand’s traditional soothsayers predict an abundance of food production in the kingdom during the coming year, and a proper supply of water - with plentiful rice yields – after divining the signs indicated in the royal ploughing ceremony last Monday, marking the beginning of the planting season.
The ceremony was presided over by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, representing His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.


Secretary of Agriculture Jaranthada Kanasut leading the procession scatters sacred seed rice during Royal Ploughing ceremonies.

Permanent Secretary for Agriculture and Cooperatives 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, proper water supply, with plentiful food and rice were predicted.

The sacred oxen, Fah and Sai, ate grass and sesame seeds and the Brahmin seers accordingly interpreted the actions as meaning there will be an abundance of food and average water supply in the kingdom of Thailand during the coming year.

Charanthada is serving as the Lord of the Plough for the last time as he will retire at the end of September.
The royal ploughing ceremony is an ancient Indian Brahmanic rite, in which sacred oxen plough a furrow at the Sanam Luang ceremonial ground. The ceremony has been performed in Thailand since the Sukhothai period, some 700 years ago.

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 official Brahmans from the royal court who are chanting and blowing conch shells. (TNA) (via Chiangmai Mail)
The sacred oxen, chose to eat grass and sesame seeds by which Brahmin
seers interpreted an abundance of food and average water.

[maclaudser]

By way of contrast there are some interesting photos of the Cambodian royal ploughing ceremony on this link.

I wasn't able to find a report of the prediction but someone told me the Cambodians were not forecast to have such a good year as the Thai farmers.

http://english.sina.com/life/p/2009/0512/240720.html

[lorrieholdridge]

The Phrarachaphithiijarodphranaangkhanraeknaakhwan ¾ÃÐÃÒª¾Ô¸Õ¨Ã´¾Ãйҧ¤ÑÅáá¹Ò¢ÇÑ*. Or more commonly called the Phitii Pheud Mongkon is treated very seriously by Thai farmers. They come from all over the Kingdom to attend the ceremony and after the proceedings are finished they rush on to the ploughed area to collect rice seeds which they believe have now been endowed with magic properties. They take the gathered seeds home and mix them with their own seeds prior to sowing them in the hope of getting a bumper crop of young "ton klaa" rice plants to be transplanted into the rice paddys.