Ceremony foretells ample water, food and prospering economy

Ceremony foretells ample water, food and prospering economy
Two sacred oxen are offered trays with an assortment of food and drink during the Royal Ploughing Ceremony at Sanam Luang, Bangkok, on Wednesday morning. They chose grass and liquor. The annual ceremony was presided over by Their Majesties the King and Queen. (Pool photo)
Two sacred oxen are offered trays with an assortment of food and drink during the Royal Ploughing Ceremony at Sanam Luang, Bangkok, on Wednesday morning. They chose grass and liquor. The annual ceremony was presided over by Their Majesties the King and Queen. (Pool photo)

Sufficient water, abundant crops and a prosperous economy were predicted during the Royal Ploughing Ceremony at Sanam Luang in Bangkok presided over by Their Majesties the King and Queen on Wednesday morning.

The ceremony was also attended by caretaker Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, outgoing cabinet members and the diplomatic corps.

This year, Prayoon Insakul, permanent secretary of agriculture and cooperatives, was the Lord of the Plough.

The Lord of the Plough chose a sarong, which means there will be sufficient water with abundant rice production and other food this year.

Two sacred oxen chose to feed on grass and liquor. Soothsayers then predicted there will be plenty of water and food, transport will be more convenient, foreign trade will improve and the economy will prosper.

The ceremony was followed by the presentation of awards by the King to outstanding farmers.

The Royal Ploughing Ceremony, also known as Farmers Day or simply the Ploughing Festival officially marks the beginning of the rice-growing season. This annual ceremony is held in many Asian countries, including Cambodia and Thailand.