The ancient Royal Ploughing Ceremony took place in Bangkok yesterday to herald the start of the traditional rice growing season. The colourful ceremony is held annually at Sanam Luang, the open expanse of land in front of the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Bound up with a mixture of tradition and superstition, the ceremony dates back over 700 years and at the conclusion of this year’s ceremony, the soothsayers were predicting a good year ahead for rice farmers.
In the absence of His Majesty the King through ill health, this year’s ceremony was presided over by the king’s son, HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. As always, large crowds gathered to watch the event and at the end of the ceremony, hundreds ran onto the freshly ploughed land at Sanam Luang (pictured above). Many Thai farmers believe the seed which has been scattered is auspicious. Those fortunate enough to gather some of the ceremonial grain may keep it as a good luck charm or mix it with their own rice stock to encourage a good crop.
