Sacred oxen have predicted a good crop of rice, corn and beans this year. The forecast was made after the Royal Ploughing Ceremony in Prey Veng province on Friday.
 

The ancient rite, which marks the beginning of the rice growing season, has Hindu origins and is used to predict whether the next growing season will be bountiful. King Norodom Sihamoni presided over the ceremony alongside government officers including Senate president Say Chum, National Assembly President Heng Samrin and Interior Minister Sar Kheng.
 

This year Prey Veng governor Chea Somethi fulfilled the traditional role of King Meak in the ceremony, while his wife Chea Phalkun played the role of queen, scattering seeds in the field. The royal oxen were offered a choice of seven plates of food, and mainly ate rice, corn and beans. They rejected the plates of fresh grass, sesame, water and wine.  

 

read more http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/38347/oxen-predict-bountiful--rice--corn-and-beans-for-farmers/

 

 

-- © Copyright Khmer Times 15/05

Word on the street is that the oxen were paid off and were promised all the sesame, grass, and wine, they could eat, after the event. As long as they made a good show of eating the rice, corn, and beans for the people.

" Sacred oxen have predicted a good crop of rice, corn and beans this year."

  Would not be too wise if they predicted drought, plague of locusts and poor TV reception, now would it?