BANGKOK, May 9 (TNA) – His Majesty King Maha
Vajiralongkorn presides over the Royal Ploughing ceremony marking the
traditional beginning of the new planting season.
The King was accompanied by Queen Suthida and Princess
Bajrakitiyabha in the ancient ceremony held at Bangkok’s Sanam Luang on
Thursday.
This annual ceremony holds great importance for the nation’s
farmers. Many gathered to collect rice
grains considered sacred from the ceremonial ground.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives organized the
ceremony with its permanent secretary Anan Suwanrat performing as the Lord of
the Ploughing Ceremony called Phraya Raek Na
A pair of oxen performed a ploughing and later were offered
choices of seven food and beverages.
They chose rice, water and grass leading to a prediction that crop and
water will be plentiful.
The King also presented awards to outstanding farmers, farm
institutes, cooperative and agricultural academic at the end of the Royal
Plough Ceremony Day.
This national holiday is also regarded as the National
Farmers’ Day.(TNA)
