Their Majesties King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida will lead the Royal Ploughing Ceremony on Friday, May 10, 2024, at Phra Meru Grounds (Sanam Luang) in Bangkok. The event will commence at 08:00 Hrs and will be attended by members of the royal family, ambassadors and representatives from over 80 foreign embassies and consulates, as well as international organizations in Thailand. This year, Mr. Prayoon Insakul, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, has been appointed as Phraya Raek Na (Lord of the Royal Ploughing Ceremony), while officials from agriculture-related agencies have been chosen to play the roles of Celestial Maidens.
The Cultivating and Ploughing Ceremony comprises two distinct rituals: the Cultivating Ceremony (Phra Ratchaphithi Phuetchamongkhon) and the Ploughing Ceremony (Phra Ratchaphithi Charot Phra Nangkhan Raek Na Khwan). The Cultivating Ceremony, a Buddhist tradition, originated during the reign of King Rama IV of the Great Royal House of Chakri. On the other hand, the Ploughing Ceremony is an ancient Brahmanic practice dating back over 700 years to the Sukhothai Period. These ceremonies are intertwined, aiming to bring prosperity to the nation’s crops, boost farmers’ spirits, and mark the beginning of the rice-growing season. Additionally, they offer an opportunity for foreigners to appreciate Thailand’s rich culture and traditions.
Although these events ceased in 1936, they were revived in 1947 and 1960, respectively, and have since been held annually together, with His Majesty the King leading the proceedings each year. Following the Cultivating Ceremony on May 9th at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, where His Majesty performs religious rituals for crop abundance, the Ploughing Ceremony takes place the next morning at Phra Meru Grounds. During the Ploughing Ceremony, Phraya Raek Na performs a ritual to predict rainfall for the upcoming season by selecting one of three pieces of cloth representing different rainfall scenarios. This prediction guides expectations for crop yields and agricultural outcomes. After the ceremonial ploughing and seed scattering, attendees can gather the sacred rice seeds for auspiciousness or as keepsakes.
Designated as Farmer’s Day since 1966, the Royal Ploughing Ceremony underscores the significance of agriculture and invites farmers to participate, bringing blessings to their livelihoods.
