Royal Ploughing Ceremony 2025 in Bangkok – Thai Traditional Ritual Explained
The Royal Ploughing Ceremony is a sacred Thai ritual held in Bangkok to mark the beginning of the rice-growing season. Learn about this unique agrarian tradition.
The Royal Ploughing Ceremony is an agrarian ritual to attract good omens for the coming harvest.
When is the Royal Ploughing Ceremony 2025 in Bangkok?
The Royal Ploughing Ceremony is held every year in the heart of the City of Angels, on Sanan Luang square.
The day of this ceremony is usually set by astrologers (usually in May). It symbolically indicates the start of the rainy season, which is synonymous with the planting of rice seedlings.
Date of the Royal Labour 2025 ceremony: Friday 9 May 2025
Ritual and Symbolism of the Royal Ploughing Ceremony
The ritual of the Royal Ploughing Ceremony is extremely closely followed and remains unchanged: two royal oxen dragging a harrow make three furrows in which rice, maize, beans and sesame seeds are sown, all sprinkled with a few drops of alcohol and water. Each of these elements also has its own symbolic capital.
The behaviour of the oxen is obviously observed, with each gesture interpreted as a good or bad sign for the next harvest.
Omens during the ceremony
The ceremony is divided into two acts. In the first act, Phra Ya Raek Na, the master of ceremonies, chooses a cloth at random. There are three different lengths (one metre, 1m25 and 1m50). The shortest is a good omen for the highlands; if he chooses the medium, it’s very good for everyone. Conversely, if he chooses the longest, there will be enough water for the lowlands and little for the uplands.
In the second part of the ceremony, the oxen are presented with seven types of food. The prediction depends on what they eat. If they choose rice or maize, this heralds an abundance of these crops as well as fruit. Nuts or sesame herald a general abundance of fruit and food. If you choose water or grass, you can be sure of plenty of water and the preservation of food resources such as rice, fruit and meat. Finally, the consumption of alcohol is seen as a favourable sign for prosperous international trade and a flourishing economy.
FAQ about the Royal Ploughing Ceremony
What is the Royal Ploughing Ceremony?
It is a traditional Thai ceremony marking the beginning of the rice season, believed to predict agricultural fortune.
Where does it take place?
At Sanam Luang, the ceremonial ground near the Grand Palace in Bangkok.
Is the ceremony open to the public?
Yes, but areas near the royal procession are restricted for security reasons.
Who participates in the ceremony?
Brahmin priests, royal oxen, and Thai officials take part in this symbolic event.
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