A Time-Honored Tradition of Blessing and Prophecy
Every year in Bangkok, there’s a special event called the Royal Ploughing Ceremony. It’s an old tradition that helps connect Thailand to its farming past. This event, also known as Phuech Mongkol Day, is organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. In 2024, it happened at Sanam Luang, a historic place in the city, on May 10th. Before that, on May 9th, there was another ceremony called the Rice Grains Blessing Ceremony.
The Royal Ploughing Ceremony isn’t just a show. It’s a series of rituals that Thai people believe in deeply. At the center of it all is the “Ploughing Lord,” usually the Permanent Secretary for Agriculture and Cooperatives. They have an important job: to predict what the farming weather will be like for the next year.
One of the interesting parts of the ceremony is when the Ploughing Lord picks out pieces of cloth of different lengths. Each piece of cloth represents a different amount of rain for the year. Whatever length of cloth the Ploughing Lord picks tells people if it’s going to be a rainy year or not, which is really important for farmers planning their crops.
Another exciting part is when two special oxen show up. In the old beliefs of Brahmanism, these oxen are sacred and stand for strength and making things grow. They pull a wooden plough while the Ploughing Lord plants rice seeds, which marks the start of the planting season. Four “celestial maidens,” who are usually women working for the Ministry, carry rice seeds like queens during this part.
After the oxen do their job, they get a special treat. They’re given seven different kinds of food and drink. Depending on what they choose to eat, people believe it can predict how good the farming will be that year. It’s a mix of tradition and believing in luck, showing how connected Thai culture is to farming.
The Royal Ploughing Ceremony has been around since the Sukhothai times, showing how important it is to Thai culture. It reminds everyone about the strong farming history of the country and how important it is for everyone’s lives.
This ceremony is so special that it became a public holiday in 1957 and later called National Farmers’ Day in 1966. It shows how much Thai people value their farming traditions and the farmers who make their country prosperous.
When people watch the Royal Ploughing Ceremony every year, they don’t just see a show. They see a symbol of Thailand’s deep connection to the land and how hardworking farmers keep the country going.
ข้อมูล : กระทรวงเกษตรและสหกรณ์ https://www.moac.go.th/royal_ploughing-history
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