AKP, May 12, 2017 –The Royal Plowing ceremony was held this morning under the presidency of His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni in Kamchay Mear district, Prey Veng province.
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 high-ranking officials as well as foreign diplomats accredited to Cambodia were also present on the occasion.
During the ceremony, H.E. Chea Somethy, Governor of Prey Veng 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 the compound of Chea Sim Kamchay Mear University.
After the plowing, two royal oxen were driven to the seven trays containing paddy, beans, corn, sesame, water, wine and grass. The oxen ate almost all corn followed by rice and beans.
This is a good sign for corn, rice 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 held 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 C. Nika
