Sacred oxen 'predict' year of plenty

[Lite Beer]

Sacred oxen 'predict' year of plenty
The Nation


The sacred oxen choose to drink water and eat grass during the Royal Ploughing Ceremony at Sanam Luang yesterday.

BANGKOK: -- The sacred oxen's choice of drinking water and eating grass during the Royal Ploughing Ceremony at Sanam Luang in Bangkok yesterday was interpreted as a forecast that there will be abundant water and food this year.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn presided over the annual ceremony early yesterday on behalf of His Majesty, to mark the beginning of the rainy season and rice-planting season.

Acting Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan also led caretaker ministers, senior officials, foreign diplomats and members of the public to welcome the royal representative.

During the ceremony, in which Chavalit Chookajorn, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, served as the "Phraya Raekna", the Lord of the Ploughing Ceremony, the sacred oxen were given grass, rice, corn, beans, sesame, liquor and water from which to choose.

The Lord of the Ploughing Ceremony also chose a six- kueb-long cloth, a length that was seen to predict that water levels will be low, rice crops in lowland areas will be bountiful while rice crops in highland areas will sustain some damage. (A kueb is a measure from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the middle finger when the hand is spread).

Ceremonial offerings

This year, the oxen drank water and ate grass, indicating that there will be enough water while rice, food and fruit will be abundant.

After the ceremony ended, the crowd scrambled for seeds sown by the Ploughing Lord, as these are said to bring the people wealth and good luck.

Farmers mix the seeds with their own rice to ensure a good crop in the coming year.

Farmers from Muang District in Uttaradit province also used the auspicious occasion to start ploughing rice plots in readiness for sowing seeds while also taking the opportunity to plant vegetables and fruit.

The province, which has been hit by drought, has finally seen some rain.

Farmers in tambon Wang Din started working their rice fields in the early hours of the morning.

Farmer Somkid Intha said he had stopped growing rice for more than six months because his plot was off the irrigation zone.

But heavy rain over the past week has replenished reservoirs so he chose the auspicious day to begin a crop of organic rice.

-- The Nation 2014-05-10

[chooka]

Educated buffalo.

[bino]

the sacred oxen were given grass, rice, corn, beans, sesame, liquor and water from which to choose.

I'm dying to know what the prediction is if the oxen go for the booze.

[JoeThePoster]

The bulls had water and grass. Wow.

Edited May 9, 2014 by JoeThePoster

[Payboy]

The family buffalo has severe diarrhea. I predict more money transfers for this year.

[Payboy]

the sacred oxen were given grass, rice, corn, beans, sesame, liquor and water from which to choose.

I'm dying to know what the prediction is if the oxen go for the booze.

Year of hangovers. That was last year.

Edited May 10, 2014 by Payboy

[NongKhaiKid]

The family buffalo has severe diarrhea. I predict more money transfers for this year.

Some farang will be paying for the medical bill. " Family carabao sick too much, you go ATM honey "

[kurnell]

Oxen are more intelligent than their owners

[Tokay]

Anyone know what lottery number I can play from this?

[ezzra]

Can said buffalo predict the lottery numbers too? if so, I want to buy him now...

[Tatsujin]

Cool, no droughts this year and lots of extra rice for the farmers to pledge . . . win, win all around

[daoyai]

"interesting" costumes the dudes are wearing, anybody know the mythology or history behind this ceremony?

[noitom]

Then it must be so.

[JoePai]

When will the Yellow shirts bring their cows

[Rockhound]

Same as every other religious <deleted>.

[Ricardo]

Did the oxen predict what would happen to world-prices for rice, and what price the government/millers would be buying at, for the next year ?

Our own local crop is ripening-in-the-fields, and approaching harvest in another month or two, so the farmers would like to know !

[Rockhound]

I attribute the fact that there aren't so many stray dogs in Pattaya now - as compared to about 6 months ago - to the fact that I started spreading the rumour locally that if Thai men eat stray dogs they will become more virile and safe from bullets and stab wounds.

[Thaddeus]

"interesting" costumes the dudes are wearing, anybody know the mythology or history behind this ceremony?

Looks like the costumes are provided by McD's

[FatController]

Just waiting for rain so we can actually get a plough in the ground - then we should be on a winner.

[ratcatcher]

"interesting" costumes the dudes are wearing, anybody know the mythology or history behind this ceremony?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Ploughing_Ceremony

http://www.asianust.ac.th/student-affairs/thai-culture-customs/royal-ploughing-ceremony.html

Isn't Google wonderful?

[chrisrazz]

To quote Warwick Capper. "Alright, that's good stuff"

[Jip99]

Oxen are more intelligent than their owners

Bullocks!

[soalbundy]

We are in the year 2014 right ? Just checking because ceremonies like this make me feel as if i have time traveled to the distant past.

[catweazle]

Coincidence?

I laid the most amazing brick this morning - it had the shape of a Banana and was of a greenish-brown at the top, turning into a black chocolate color at the lower end. Thus I predict a very good Banana season and the worldwide rennaisance of the Banana split.

Edited May 10, 2014 by catweazle

[Lupatria]

Did the oxen predict what would happen to world-prices for rice, and what price the government/millers would be buying at, for the next year ?

Our own local crop is ripening-in-the-fields, and approaching harvest in another month or two, so the farmers would like to know !

Did the oxen predict what would happen to world-prices for rice

The oxen, usually in charge for these predictions, is currently grazing the desert sands of Dubai

[Lupatria]

"interesting" costumes the dudes are wearing, anybody know the mythology or history behind this ceremony?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Ploughing_Ceremony

http://www.asianust.ac.th/student-affairs/thai-culture-customs/royal-ploughing-ceremony.html

Isn't Google wonderful?

[soalbundy]

Coincidence?

I laid the most amazing brick this morning - it had the shape of a Banana and was of a greenish-brown at the top, turning into a black chocolate color at the lower end. Thus I predict a very good Banana season and the worldwide rennaisance of the Banana split.

We don't want to know that.

[ggt]

What does it mean if he takes a dump...during the ceremony...?

[winstonc]

What does it mean if he takes a dump...during the ceremony...?

it means ptp will remain in power.

[BillyBobThai]

They starved the poor beast for 40 hours before this event. Any bets??