King Maha Vajiralongkorn Presides Over Thailand's Auspicious Royal Ploughing Ceremony

In a grand display of tradition and hope, Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn presided over the annual Royal Ploughing Ceremony on Friday, a ritual that signifies the beginning of the rice-planting season. The vibrant event, held at Bangkok's Sanam Luang, is steeped in cultural significance, predicting the agricultural conditions for the coming year.

Amid the opulence of the event, the King and Queen Suthida were shaded by ornate umbrellas, taking their place at the venue close to the Grand Palace. The ceremony, dating back 700 years, underscores rice's pivotal role in Thailand's culture and economy, offering farmers reassurance as they embark on a new planting season.

Leading the ceremony, the chief civil servant from the Agriculture Ministry, donned in traditional attire, chose a piece of cloth believed to forecast satisfactory rainfall and a fruitful harvest. The ceremonial procession featured 'sacred' oxen, Por and Piang, symbolizing sufficiency, which selected foods symbolizing vital resources, prompting a hopeful outlook for trade and sustenance.

(With inputs from agencies.)