Royal Ploughing Ceremony at Sanam Luang, in front of the Royal Palace Phra Rachawang

An ancient brahman custom that in 1960 was reinstated by king Bhumipon and marks the beginning of the rice planting season. In Thailand, this annual ritual is performed in the second week of May on Sanam Luang in presence of the king or his envoy. Before the start of the ceremony several grains of rice are carefully selected, usually by the king himself. Royal oxen then symbolically pull a plough led by two brahmans who sprinkle the soil with holy water followed by two pairs of men holding a silver and golden bowl sowing the rice. The plough makes three circles and then the oxen are served seven banana leaf food baskets containing rice, corn, beans, sesame seeds, grass, water and liqueur, respectively. According to which basket the oxen eat from the future for the coming year is forecast by a soothsayer. After the ceremony onlookers often collect the grains of rice which they take home as lucky charms . It also refers to a scene in the life of the historical Buddha when he retreated to meditate under a tree during the Ploughing Ceremony at the age of seven and when he for the first time experienced the suffering of another being, i.e. a worm that was accidently cut in two by the ploughshare, and which initiated his search to end all suffering in the world. In Thai this day is called Wan Pheut Mongkon.