Phuket Thailand Royal Ploughing Ceremony

The Royal Ploughing Ceremony

One of the most colorful and important royal ceremonies performed each year takes place in May at Sanam Luang near the Grand Palace in Bangkok just before the annual rains typically arrive. The ceremony has been performed since ancient times and designed to give an auspicious beginning to the new planting season. The ceremony is aimed at providing morale and making predictions about the year's crops. One of Thailand's most interesting events, the Ploughing Ceremony is of great importance to the country's farmers. In the old days, the ceremony was held to give farmers the signal that it was an auspicious time to begin ploughing for the new rice crop. This ceremony is intended to demonstrate the significance of the rice farming occupation as well as to boost the morale of farmers all over the country.

Thailand is basically an agricultural country, with about 80 per cent of the population farming the land. Since 1966, the Cabinet declared Ploughing Ceremony day as the Annual Agriculturists Day. This is to make agriculturists aware of the importance of agriculture and to remind them to take part in the ceremony to bring about good luck and wealth for themselves and the country as a whole. Since then, the Agriculturists Day has been observed together with the Rice Grains Blessing and Ploughing Ceremony.

During the ceremony the Farming Lord, or Phraya Raek Na, "Lord of the Festival" as his representative to carry out the rites. On his arrival at the Pramane Ground,The Ploughing Lord is offered a choice of three lengths of cloth, all looking identical, from which he chooses one. If his choice is the longest one, there will be little rain the coming year; if it is the shortest one, rain will be plentiful. If the medium-sized cloth is chosen then the year will be one of average rainfall. Then Phraya Raek Na will plough a piece of land designated on the Phramane Ground near the Grand Palace to signal the beginning of the ploughing season.

A ceremonial pavilion was built at Sanam Luang for the occasion, which was participated by the Lord of the Ploughing Ceremony (Phra Raek Na) assisted by four Celestial Maidens (Thepi) carrying gold and silver baskets full of grains.

A procession then follows, with a red-and-gold sacred plough drawn by bulls decorated with flowers, drummers in lavish green costumes, Brahmans chanting and blowing conch shells, and four Nang Thepi, or consecrated women carrying gold and silver baskets filled with rice seed.

The bulls then turn a few furrows with the sacred plough, and are then presented with seven different types of foods and drinks: rice seed, beans, maize, hay, sesame seed, water and liquor. If the bulls favor rice seed or maize the prediction is that cereal and fruits will be bountiful. Should they have taken a liking to green beans or sesame seed the indications are that fruit and food will be plentiful. However if its water or hay the chances are there will be an average rainfall with an abundance of cereals, fruits, food and animal flesh. Finally had they fancied rice or liquor it would suggest communications would improve; foreign trade will grow and there will be growth in the economy.

The scattering of rice seed by the Phya Raek Nah follows the ploughing. When the ceremony ends the barriers are taken down, allowing the spectators into the "rice field" in the hope of gathering just a few sacred grains for good luck. Even if a farmer finds just one single grain and mixes it with his own rice stock it ensure a good crop in the coming year.

The dress code for gentlemen is collar and tie or Thai national dress with a high collar. Ladies should wear either a blouse and skirt or a dress. Trousers would be seen as in appropriate. Before 8.30 am tourist are free take whatever photographs they wish but are forbidden to enter the Brahmin ritual pavilion. After 8.30am tourists must remain in their designated tented area.