Royal Ploughing Ceremony held in Bangkok

BANGKOK, May 13 (TNA) - On behalf of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn presided over the Royal Ploughing Ceremony at Sanam Luang ceremonial ground in Bangkok on Wednesday (May 13) morning, during which plenty of water, good harvest and abundant food were predicted this year by traditional soothsayers. Permanent Secretary for Agriculture and Cooperatives Chawalit Chukhachorn was the Lord of the Ploughing Ceremony, or Phraya Raek Na, while two pairs of sacred oxen, named Phra Kho Fa, Phra Kho Lert, Phra Kho Perm and Phra Kho Poon took part in the ceremony. Two main sacred oxen, Phra Kho Fa and Phra Kho Lert, were then offered seven bowls of different kinds of food, including paddy rice, maize, water, grass, soy bean, sesame seeds and liquor. The two main sacred oxen chose to eat grass, which was predicted that Thailand should have plenty of water, good harvest and abundant food in 2015. The Lord of the Ploughing Ceremony also picked a piece of cloth measuring four palms (a Thai unit of linear measure), which was predicted by the traditional soothsayers that there should be more water this year and paddy fields in highlands should yield good harvests, while those in low lying areas should be slightly damaged. Accompanied by his daughter, Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn also presented awards to outstanding Thai farmers nationwide. Samples of selected 11 rice species, totaling 2,520 kilogrammes, were also distributed to farmers and the general public participating in the ceremony. (TNA)