Khmer Times Mon, May 8, 2023

His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, presided over the annual Royal Ploughing ceremony this morning – and the signs are good for Cambodia this year, as the Royal Oxen ate 95 percent of the grain they were offered.

The ceremony took place in Trapaing Russey commune, Kampong Svay district of Kampong Thom province .

Senate President Samdech Vibol Sena Pheakdei Say Chhum, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Samdech Kralahom Sar Kheng, and many other high-ranking officials as well as foreign diplomats accredited to Cambodia were also present on the occasion.

During the ceremony, Governor of Kampong Thom province H.E. Ngoun Ratanak 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 in the provincial stadium.

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 rice, corn and beans.

This is a good sign for three main crops’ growing in the country this year, said a Royal Brahmin, calling on Cambodian farmers to be ready to do their farming.

On his official Facebook page this morning, Prime Minister Hun Sen wrote, “Happy Royal Plowing Ceremony. Today, the Kingdom of Cambodia celebrates the Royal Ploughing ceremony annually held in the month of Visak (the 6th month in Khmer lunar calendar.)”

This very important ceremony is celebrated to predict the country’s (agricultural) outcomes this year through the oxen’s appetite as well as to remind farmers that the crop planting season begins, he underlined.

Royal Ploughing is the traditional ceremony to mark the beginning of the crop planting season in Cambodia.

According to the tradition, the Royal Plowing ceremony is celebrated to predict the upcoming distribution of rainfall, thus rice harvesting, in the country through the oxen’s appetite of paddy, corn, bean, grass, sesame, water, wine.

The celebration of Royal Ploughing Ceremony was cancelled in the past three years due to COVID-19 threats. In 2019, this traditional ceremony took place in Daun Keo city, Takeo province under the royal presidency of His Majesty the King. AKP

SOURCE: Khmer Times, Cambodia Mon, May 8, 2023

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