Plenty of water, food, thriving economy predicted

His Majesty the King, centre, accompanied by Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha, right, presides over the Royal Ploughing ceremony at Sanam Luang in Bangkok on Monday. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)

Seers forecast an enjoyable year ahead for the kingdom, with an adequate supply of water, food in abundance and economic prosperity at the Royal Ploughing ceremony at Sanam Luang on Monday morning.

The traditional annual ceremony is held to mark the beginning of the rice farming season. The choice of food and drink made by a pair of sacred oxen are used to predict the coming harvest.



The sacred oxen were offered seven choices and chose water and grass, leading to the prediction there would be a sufficient supply of water and bountiful crops.



The oxen also chose liquor, which signified economic prosperity, improved transport convenience and a thriving trade with foreign countries.



To predict the season's rainfall, Phraya Raek Na selected a piece of folded cloth with a length of six kueb (about 25cm). This led to the forecast that paddy fields in low-lying areas would have good yields, but for those on higher ground it would be low.