The Annual Ploughing Ceremony
usually takes place in May every year (but
the date has not been exactly fixed like other royal ceremonies) at
Sanam Luang near the Grand Palace in Bangkok. The
ceremony has been performed since ancient times and designed to give an
auspicious beginning to the new planting season.
In fact, the
Ploughing Ceremony is of Brahman origin and it was practiced even before
the birth of Lord Buddha who, then a Prince used to take part
in the ceremony. The auspicious day and time are
to set by the
Royal Brahman astrologers. Nowadays, although Their Majesties
are present at the ceremony, the King no longer takes the leading role,
His Majesty the King appoints the Ploughing Lord as his representative
to carry out the rites.
During this colorful ceremony, the
amount of rainfall to be expected in the coming season is forecast. The
Ploughing Lord is offered a choice of three lengths of cloth, all looking
identical,
if his choice is the longest one there will be rain during the coming
year; if his choice is the shortest
one, rain will be plentiful while the one of medium
length indicates average rain.
After donning the piece of cloth, called
"Panung", the Ploughing Lord then ploughs furrows in Sanam Luang
with a sacred plough of red and gold drawn by sacred white bulls and
followed by four consecrated ladies who
carry gold and silver baskets filled with rice seed.
Walking alongside the plough are Brahmans
who are chanting and blowing conch shells.
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.
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