Royal Ploughing Ceremony
Royal Ploughing Ceremony, also known as The Ploughing Festival, is an ancient royal rite held in many Asian countries to mark the traditional beginning of the rice growing season. The royal ploughing ceremony, called or, was also practiced in pre-colonial Burma until 1885, when the monarchy was abolished.
The pre-Ramayana tradition
In the various versions of Ramayana, Sita, the heroine appears from the ploughed earth as a baby when Janaka, the king of Videha ploughs the field in the royal ceremony. This is the earliest historical account of this agricultural ritual.This tradition is a pan-Greater Indian agricultural ritual.
Southeast Asia
Cambodia
The ploughing ceremony is an ancient royal rite observed annually in Cambodia under the auspices of the king to announce the arrival of the rice-planting season and predict the crop productivity of the coming season. The ceremony is known as, composed of Khmer and Pali-Sanskrit words. In Cambodia, the history of the Ploughing Ceremony can be traced back to Funan period and was introduced from ancient India. The ceremony is also appeared in Reamker, the Cambodian version of Indian epic Ramayana and some other Buddhist literature.In Angkor Borei, a statue of Balarama holding plough dated to 6th century was found. This deity statue was sculpted for the ploughing ritual and is considered to be the earliest evidence relevant to the ceremony.
The ploughing ceremony is considered to be one of the most important Khmer royal ceremonies and performs annually in Cambodia. The 2020 Cambodian Royal Ploughing Ceremony was set to be held on May 10 and was postponed as a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the kingdom.
Thailand
In Thailand, the common name of the ceremony is which literally means the "auspicious beginning of the rice growing season." The royal ceremony is called which literally means the "royal ploughing ceremony marking the auspicious beginning of the rice growing season." This ceremony is of Hindu origin. Thailand also observes another Buddhist ceremony called which literally means "prosperity for plantation." The royal ceremony is called . The official translation of is "Harvest Festival."King Mongkut combined both the Buddhist and Hindu ceremonies into a single royal ceremony called . The Buddhist part is conducted in the Grand Palace first and is followed by the Hindu part held at Sanam Luang, Bangkok.
Series 2 banknotes, first issued in 1925 during the reign of King Vajiravudh and continuing into the reign of King Prajadhipok, depicted the Royal Ploughing Ceremony on the backs of all six denominations. King Rama VII discontinued the practice in the 1920s. It was revived in 1960 by King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
In both Cambodia and Thailand, the ceremony is typically presided over by the monarch or an appointee. Sometimes, the monarch himself took part in the ceremony and actually guided the plough behind the oxen.
At present, the day on which is held is called the Day. It has been a public holiday since 1957.
Myanmar
Burmese chronicles traditionally attribute the start of this rite to the late 500s CE during the Pagan dynasty, when it was performed by Kings Htuntaik, Htunpyit, and Htunchit, all of whom bear the name 'htun' or 'plow.' However, this costly ritual did not occur annually nor was it performed by every monarch. During this ritual, the king plowed a specifically designated field outside the royal palace called the with white oxen that were adorned with golden and silver, followed by princes and ministers, who took turns to ceremonially plow the fields. While the plowing was undertaken, Brahmin priests offered prayers and offerings to the 15 Hindu deities, while a group of nat votaries and votaresses invoked the 37 chief nats. The ploughing ceremony was a ritual to propitiate the rain god, Moe Khaung Kyawzwa in order to ensure a good harvest for the kingdom, and also a way for the king to present himself as a peasant king to the commoners.Date
The traditional date of the Burmese royal ploughing ceremony was the beginning of the Buddhist lent in the Burmese month of Waso.In 2009, the ceremony was held on May 12 in Cambodia and on May 11 in Thailand. The date is usually in May, but varies as it is determined by hora. In 2013, the ceremony and public holiday was held on Monday, 13 May. In Cambodia, the ceremony is mostly held on a Tuesday or Saturday.
In Thailand, the exact date and times for the yearly event are set annually by Brahman priests. Discontinued by the 1920s, this practice was revived beginning in 1960.
If the rain does not fall after the Royal Ploughing Ceremony, various other rainmaking rites have been observed in Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar such as the Hae Nang Maew cat procession to pray for rain in case of drought.
Rituals
In the ceremony, two sacred oxen are hitched to a wooden plough and they plough a furrow in some ceremonial ground, while rice seed is sown by court Brahmins. After the ploughing, the oxen are offered plates of food, including rice, corn, green beans, sesame, fresh-cut grass, water and rice whisky.Depending on what the oxen eat, court astrologers and Brahmins make a prediction on whether the coming growing season will be bountiful or not. The ceremony is rooted in Brahman belief, and is held to ensure a good harvest. In the case of the Burmese royal ploughing ceremony, it may also have Buddhist associations. In traditional accounts of the Buddha's life, Prince Siddhartha, as an infant, performed his first miracle during a royal ploughing ceremony, by meditating underneath a rose apple tree, thus exemplifying his precocious nature.