This year’s Royal Ploughing ceremony signals the commencement of the crop planting season in the country. It will observed on May 8th in Trapaing Russey commune, Kampong Svay district of Kampong Thom province, as per reports.
Moreover, his Majesty, King Norodom Sihamoni, will preside over the annual celebration.
The ceremony will likely to attended by senior leaders of the legislative and executive bodies. Along with foreign ambassadors accredited to Cambodia, as per reports. An agricultural fair will follow the ceremony.
Governor of Kampong Thom province Ngoun Ratanak will play the role of “King Meak” by guiding the royal oxen and ploughing around the Royal Field. So, his spouse will be “Queen Mehua” by walking behind scattering seeds on the furrowed ground.
As per reports, the celebration will typically held in May. And primarily aims to indicate the start of the rainy season to Cambodian farmers. Thus, it enables them to prepare for their farming activities and pray for a plentiful harvest for the year.
According to the tradition, the ceremony is annually 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, and wine.
The celebration of Royal Ploughing Ceremony cancelled in the past three years due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
In 2019, this traditional ceremony took place in Daun Keo city. Takeo province under the royal presidency of His Majesty the King.
