The Royal Ploughing Ceremony: Good Rice, Corn and Bean Harvest Predicted This Year

The annual Royal Ploughing ceremony was held in Kampong Speu province on Sunday morning under the royal presidency of His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia.

His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, Senate President Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, National Assembly President Samdech Moha Rathsapheathika Thipadei Khuon Sudary, Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, and numerous other high-ranking officials, as well as foreign diplomats, were in attendance at the traditional event held in Chbar Mon city of Kampong Speu province.

During the ceremony, Governor of Kampong Speu province H.E. Vei Samnang played the role of “King Meak” by guiding the royal oxen and plowing around the Royal Field, while his spouse was “Queen Mehua” by walking behind scattering seeds on the furrowed ground.

The Royal Ploughing Ceremony: Good Rice, Corn and Bean Harvest Predicted This Year

After the ploughing, two royal oxen were driven to the seven trays containing paddy, beans, corn, sesame, water, wine and grass. The oxen ate 95 percent of the rice, 95 percent of the corn and 85 percent of the beans. This is a positive indicator for the three main crops’ harvest in the country this year, according to a Royal Brahmin, who encouraged Cambodian farmers to be prepared for the upcoming farming season.

The Royal Ploughing ceremony marks the start of the crop planting season in Cambodia and is a traditional practice used to predict the country's agricultural outcomes.

Mores photos here (AKP)