Celebration of the first furrow in Thailand
Description:
The first furrow ceremony is of Brahmanic origin and was practiced before the birth of the Buddha. When Buddha was a prince, he also took part in the ceremony. A favorable day and time for the ceremony are appointed by the Royal Brahman astrologers.
Today, although Their Majesties are present at the ceremony, the King no longer plays a leading role. His Majesty appoints the Chief Plowman as his representative to perform this beautiful rite. The main purpose of this ceremony is to correctly predict the amount of rainfall in the upcoming season. The main Plowman is offered a choice of three identical-looking cuts of fabric. If he chooses the longest cut, then next year we should expect weak precipitation, if the shortest, then the year will be rainy, and a section of medium-length fabric means moderate rainfall.
The Chief Plowman then puts on a panung and plows the Sanam Luang site with a sacred gilded plow. The plow is painted red and depicts sacred white bulls. Behind the plow are four beautiful girls who carry gold and silver baskets filled with rice. On either side of the ploughman, the brahmanas march, singing and playing on the seashells.
When the plowing is finished, the bulls are offered seven different types of foods and beverages: rice, beans, corn, hay, sesame seeds, water and liquor. It is believed that those foods and drinks that the bulls choose and eat will be in abundance during the next year. After the ceremony, the crowd rushes to collect the seeds, as there is a belief that these seeds bring luck and wealth to their owners. Farmers sow selected grains along with their seeds for a rich harvest.