AKP Phnom Penh, May 03, 2018 –The annual Royal Plowing ceremony was held under the high presidency of His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, in Svay Rieng province this morning.
National Assembly President Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, Senate President Samdech Vibol Sena Pheakdei Say Chhum, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Samdech Kralahom Sar Kheng, and many other high-ranking officials as well as foreign diplomats accredited to Cambodia were also present on the occasion.
During the ceremony, H.E. Men Vibol, Governor of Svay Rieng province, played the role of “King Meak” by guiding the royal oxen and plowing around the Royal Field, while his spouse played the role of “Queen Mehua” by walking behind scattering seeds on the furrowed ground in Sras Vong village, Sangkat Svay Rieng, Svay Rieng city.
After the plowing, two royal oxen were driven to the seven trays containing paddy, beans, corn, sesame, water, wine and grass. The oxen ate about 95 percent of rice and corn, and some 80 percent of beans.
This is a good sign for rice, corn, and bean growing in the country this year, said a Royal Brahmin, calling on Cambodian farmers to be ready to do their farming.
The Royal Plowing ceremony is the annual and traditional ceremony to mark the beginning of the crop planting season in Cambodia.
Last year, the Royal Plowing ceremony was organised in Prey Veng province, and in 2016 in Siem Reap province.
According to the tradition, the Royal Plowing ceremony is celebrated to predict the upcoming distribution of rainfall, thus rice harvesting, in the country through the oxen’s appetite of paddy, corn, bean, grass, sesame, water, wine.
By Khan Sophirom
