Now that the rainy season is about to begin, it is another exciting time for farmers. What will this harvest year bring? A good indication, according to the superstitious Thai, is the sacred oxen during the Royal Plowing Ceremony at Sanam Luang. The choice of what these beasts will eat shows what kind of harvest can be expected.
According to this Buddhist ceremony, the animals can always choose from seven bowls of food. This year the oxen opted for rice, maize and grass. According to the Phraya Raek Na (Lord of the Plow), permanent secretary Theerapat of the Ministry of Agriculture in daily life, that indicates an abundance of rice, grains and sufficient water.
Theerapat was accompanied by consecrated women who carried gold and silver bowls with blessed rice seeds. At the end of the ceremony, the spectators began to collect the scattered seeds, for they believe that they will bring good luck.
In the country, many farmers have already started sowing rice. In Kohn Buri (Nakhon Ratchasima), farmers have started harvesting durians.
The Thai government wants farmers to increase their productivity and also to produce more sustainably. The policy is aimed at scaling up and promoting the production of Hom Mali rice (jasmine rice) and organic rice. Five years have been allocated for each project with a total budget of 25,871 billion baht.
Source: Bangkok Post
This is not a Buddhist but a Hindu ceremony and is performed under the leadership of a number of Brahmin priests. A prosperous harvest is predicted every year. The king, specially flown in from Germany, led the ceremony.
'specially flown in from Germany' suggests that the king lives more or less permanently in Germany, has no idea of planning his agenda and does not want to come to Bangkok at all for this (suddenly organized) ceremony. Seems strong….
Well, dear Chris, the king lives semi-permanently in Germany in 'Villa Stolberg' in the village of Tutzing on Lake Standberg, not far from Munich. He bought the villa, I think last year, for 12 million euros. If I follow the messages correctly, he lives there about half the time. He mainly comes to Thailand for all kinds of ceremonies and flies back after a few days with one of his own two planes or with Thai Airways.
The suggestions are entirely at your expense.
Latest news message:
He (the King) left Bangkok last night on TG924 to return to Munich, after spending only three days in Thailand to take part in two royal ceremonies: Visakha Bukha Day on Wednesday and the royal plowing ritual on Friday.
Just a very small addition. The ceremony outside on the Sanaam Luang with those oxen and such is Hindu, but in the Grand Palace there is also a Buddhist ceremony. They love ceremonies in Thailand. Yesterday I was at the post office again in front of a closed door.
Wikipedia
In Thailand, the common name of the ceremony is Raek Na Khwan (แรกนาขวัญ) which literally means the “auspicious beginning of the rice growing season”. The royal ceremony is called Phra Ratcha Phithi Charot Phra Nangkhan Raek Na Khwan (พระราชพิธีจรดพระนังคัลแรกนาขวัญ) which literally means the “royal plowing ceremony marking the auspicious beginning of the rice growing season”.[3]
This Raek Na Khwan ceremony is of Hindu origin. Thailand also observes another Buddhist ceremony called Phuetcha Mongkhon (พืชมงคล) which literally means “prosperity for plantation”. The royal ceremony is called Phra Ratcha Phithi Phuetcha Mongkhon (พระราชพิธีพืชมงคล).[4] The official translation of Phuetcha Mongkhon is “Harvest Festival”.[5]
King Mongkut combined both the Buddhist and Hindu ceremonies into a single royal ceremony called Phra Ratcha Phithi Phuetcha Mongkhon Charot Phra Nangkhan Raek Na Khwan (พระราชพิธีพืชมงคลจรดพระน ังคัลแรกนาขวัญ). The Buddhist part is conducted in the Grand Palace first and is followed by the Hindu part held at Sanam Luang, Bangkok.[6]
At present, the day on which Phra Ratcha Phithi Phuetcha Mongkhon Charot Phra Nangkhan Raek Na Khwan is held is called Phuetcha Mongkhon Day (วันพืชมงคล Wan Phuetcha Mongkhon). It has been a public holiday since 1957.[5]
I cannot remember that the oxen ever did not foretell a bountiful harvest.
I do remember that it was only allowed to sow once because of lack of water.