Royal Ploughing Ceremony

The 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, was also practiced in pre-colonial Burma until 1885, when the monarchy was abolished.

In Thailand, the ploughing ceremony dates back to the Sukhothai Kingdom (1238–1438). According to Quaritch Wales, a former adviser to Kings Vajiravudh (Rama VI) and Prajadhipok (Rama VII) of Siam (1924–1928), in his book Siamese State Ceremonies, the Thai adopted the Ploughing Ceremony in toto from the Khmers when they obtained the freedom from Khmer Empire upon the independence of Sukhothai in mid-13th century.

Other than a morale-boosting strategy, the Royal Ploughing, or the auspicious ceremony of Charot Phra Nangkhan Raek Na Khwan (จรดพระนังคัลแรกนาขวัญ) as called in Thai, serves to announce the beginning of the growing season. The ruler or head of state will preside over the ceremony to deliver this message to the people.