'We will be blessed': Thai royal oxen predict good rice harvest
Thai officials dressed in traditional costumes feed oxen during the annual royal ploughing ceremony during the annual royal ploughing ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2019. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's royal oxen predicted a good harvest in an annual ploughing ceremony on Thursday, as the world's second-largest rice exporter heads into a new growing season.
The ceremony - an ancient Brahmin ritual that heralds the start of the season in May - was presided over by newly crowned King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his queen, whom he married last week before the coronation at the weekend.
Thai officials dressed in traditional costumes feed oxen during the annual royal ploughing ceremony during the annual royal ploughing ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2019. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
Draped in red and gold, a pair of light-skinned royal oxen, named "Perm" and "Poon", which together form the word "multiply" in Thai, pulled a plough round a ceremonial field nine times, accompanied by court Brahmins and government officials.
Then they were presented with seven food items, with court astrologers interpreting their choices as a pointer to the country's harvest.
"This year, the royal oxen ate rice, predicting bountiful grains and fruits," said farm ministry official Meesak Pakdeekong, as he read the interpretation.
A woman shows collected rice seeds during the annual royal ploughing ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2019. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
"They also had water and grass, predicting good water and bountiful grains, food, fruits and meat."
Thai culture is influenced by Hindu beliefs in which the white bull Nandi is revered as the vehicle of the god Shiva.
Hundreds of Thais watched the ceremony from outside the field, and broke through fences at the end of the ritual to scramble for grains of rice scattered during the event.
A woman shows a collected rice seed during the annual royal ploughing ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2019. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
One spectator, Janya Chokechalerm, said she left her niece to run across the field, just managing to grab three grains.
"This is the first time in my life, I'm so happy," she said.
Many farmers who traveled to the capital to attend the ceremony believe the rice grains to be blessed.
Thai people collect rice grains after the annual royal ploughing ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2019. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
"I will worship these sacred rice grains and I will give some to my relatives and neighbors, because they are considered auspicious," said another watcher, Somkid Janchompoo.
"We worship it so that we will be blessed and will never starve."
People rush past barriers to collect rice seeds after the annual royal ploughing ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2019. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
(Writing by Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
People rush past barriers to collect rice seeds after the annual royal ploughing ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2019. REUTERS/Athit PerawongmethaThai officials dressed in traditional costumes feed oxen during the annual royal ploughing ceremony during the annual royal ploughing ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2019. REUTERS/Athit PerawongmethaArnan Suwannarat, permanent secretary of the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, dressed in a traditional costume, throws rice grains during the annual Royal Ploughing Ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2019. REUTERS/Athit PerawongmethaThailand's Queen Suthida (R) and Princess Bajrakitiyabha attend the annual Royal Ploughing Ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2019. REUTERS/Athit PerawongmethaArnan Suwannarat, permanent secretary of the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, dressed in a traditional costume, throws rice grains during the annual Royal Ploughing Ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2019. REUTERS/Athit PerawongmethaThailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida attend the annual Royal Ploughing Ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2019. REUTERS/Athit PerawongmethaThailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn (C) and Queen Suthida watch the annual Royal Ploughing Ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2019. REUTERS/Athit PerawongmethaArnan Suwannarat, permanent secretary of the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, dressed in a traditional costume, throws rice grains during the annual Royal Ploughing Ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2019. REUTERS/Athit PerawongmethaArnan Suwannarat, the permanent secretary of the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, dressed in a traditional costume, greets Thailand's Queen Suthida during the annual Royal Ploughing Ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2019. REUTERS/Athit PerawongmethaThailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida attend the annual Royal Ploughing Ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2019. REUTERS/Athit PerawongmethaThailand's Queen Suthida attends the annual Royal Ploughing Ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2019. REUTERS/Athit PerawongmethaThailand's Queen Suthida attend the annual Royal Ploughing Ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2019. REUTERS/Athit PerawongmethaThailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn attends the annual Royal Ploughing Ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2019. REUTERS/Athit PerawongmethaThailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn attends the annual Royal Ploughing Ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2019. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
