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The Royal Ploughing Ceremony

12 images Created 13 May 2013

The Royal Ploughing Ceremony has been a part of Thai culture for hundreds of years - it reportedly goes back to the Sukothai period around 1300AD. In ancient times the court's Brahmin priests used it to presage the coming rice harvest. In modern times, it marks the beginning of Thailand's rice planting season, but the ancient traditions are still observed.

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  • 13 MAY 2013 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: Musicians of the Royal Court start the Royal Ploughing Ceremony in Bangkok. The Royal Plowing Ceremony is held Thailand to mark the traditional beginning of the rice-growing season. The date is usually in May, but is determined by court astrologers and varies year to year. During the ceremony, two sacred oxen are hitched to a wooden plough and plough a small field on Sanam Luang (across from the Grand Palace), 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. A similar ceremony is held in Cambodia.    PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    RoyalPloughingCeremony001.jpg
  • 13 MAY 2013 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: People wait for the Royal Ploughing Ceremony to start under umbrellas to shield them from the sun and heat. After the ceremony, thousands of Thais, mostly family formers, rush onto the ploughed ground to gather up the blessed rice seeds sown by the Brahmin priests. The Royal Plowing Ceremony is held Thailand to mark the traditional beginning of the rice-growing season. The date is usually in May, but is determined by court astrologers and varies year to year. During the ceremony, two sacred oxen are hitched to a wooden plough and plough a small field on Sanam Luang (across from the Grand Palace), 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. A similar ceremony is held in Cambodia.    PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    RoyalPloughingCeremony038.jpg
  • 13 MAY 2013 - BANGKOK, THAILAND:  Thais watch the Royal Ploughing Ceremony in Bangkok. The Royal Plowing Ceremony is held Thailand to mark the traditional beginning of the rice-growing season. The date is usually in May, but is determined by court astrologers and varies year to year. During the ceremony, two sacred oxen are hitched to a wooden plough and plough a small field on Sanam Luang (across from the Grand Palace), 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. A similar ceremony is held in Cambodia.   PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    RoyalPloughingCeremony005.jpg
  • 13 MAY 2013 - BANGKOK, THAILAND:    A child trips and is dragged by her mother as people rush onto Sanam Luang to collect blessed rice seeds after the Royal Ploughing Ceremony. After the ceremony, thousands of Thais, mostly family formers, rush onto the ploughed ground to gather up the blessed rice seeds sown by the Brahmin priests. The Royal Plowing Ceremony is held Thailand to mark the traditional beginning of the rice-growing season. The date is usually in May, but is determined by court astrologers and varies year to year. During the ceremony, two sacred oxen are hitched to a wooden plough and plough a small field on Sanam Luang (across from the Grand Palace), 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. A similar ceremony is held in Cambodia. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    RoyalPloughingCeremony006.jpg
  • 13 MAY 2013 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: People rush onto the field at the Royal Ploughing Ceremony in Bangkok. After the ceremony, thousands of Thais, mostly family formers, rush onto the ploughed ground to gather up the blessed rice seeds sown by the Brahmin priests. The Royal Plowing Ceremony is held Thailand to mark the traditional beginning of the rice-growing season. The date is usually in May, but is determined by court astrologers and varies year to year. During the ceremony, two sacred oxen are hitched to a wooden plough and plough a small field on Sanam Luang (across from the Grand Palace), 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. A similar ceremony is held in Cambodia.    PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    RoyalPloughingCeremony039.jpg
  • 13 MAY 2013 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: A man looks for blessed rice seeds after the Royal Ploughing Ceremony in Bangkok. After the ceremony, thousands of Thais, mostly family formers, rush onto the ploughed ground to gather up the blessed rice seeds sown by the Brahmin priests. The Royal Plowing Ceremony is held Thailand to mark the traditional beginning of the rice-growing season. The date is usually in May, but is determined by court astrologers and varies year to year. During the ceremony, two sacred oxen are hitched to a wooden plough and plough a small field on Sanam Luang (across from the Grand Palace), 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. A similar ceremony is held in Cambodia.    PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    RoyalPloughingCeremony013.jpg
  • 13 MAY 2013 - BANGKOK, THAILAND:  People stroke the Royal Oxen and rub money on the animal's forehead for good luck at the Royal Ploughing Ceremony in Bangkok. After the ceremony, thousands of Thais, mostly family formers, rush onto the ploughed ground to gather up the blessed rice seeds sown by the Brahmin priests. The Royal Plowing Ceremony is held Thailand to mark the traditional beginning of the rice-growing season. The date is usually in May, but is determined by court astrologers and varies year to year. During the ceremony, two sacred oxen are hitched to a wooden plough and plough a small field on Sanam Luang (across from the Grand Palace), 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. A similar ceremony is held in Cambodia.   PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    RoyalPloughingCeremony031.jpg
  • 13 MAY 2013 - BANGKOK, THAILAND:   Children sift through the ploughed sand looking for blessed rice seeds at the Royal Ploughing Ceremony. After the ceremony, thousands of Thais, mostly family formers, rush onto the ploughed ground to gather up the blessed rice seeds sown by the Brahmin priests. The Royal Plowing Ceremony is held Thailand to mark the traditional beginning of the rice-growing season. The date is usually in May, but is determined by court astrologers and varies year to year. During the ceremony, two sacred oxen are hitched to a wooden plough and plough a small field on Sanam Luang (across from the Grand Palace), 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. A similar ceremony is held in Cambodia.  PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    RoyalPloughingCeremony028.jpg
  • 13 MAY 2013 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: A cotton candy vendor works the crowd while Thais looks for blessed rice seeds at the Royal Ploughing Ceremony. After the ceremony, thousands of Thais, mostly family formers, rush onto the ploughed ground to gather up the blessed rice seeds sown by the Brahmin priests. The Royal Plowing Ceremony is held Thailand to mark the traditional beginning of the rice-growing season. The date is usually in May, but is determined by court astrologers and varies year to year. During the ceremony, two sacred oxen are hitched to a wooden plough and plough a small field on Sanam Luang (across from the Grand Palace), 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. A similar ceremony is held in Cambodia.    PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    RoyalPloughingCeremony040.jpg
  • 13 MAY 2013 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: Thousands crowd into the ploughed ground to collect blessed rice seeds at the Royal Ploughing Ceremony. After the ceremony, thousands of Thais, mostly family formers, rush onto the ploughed ground to gather up the blessed rice seeds sown by the Brahmin priests. The Royal Plowing Ceremony is held Thailand to mark the traditional beginning of the rice-growing season. The date is usually in May, but is determined by court astrologers and varies year to year. During the ceremony, two sacred oxen are hitched to a wooden plough and plough a small field on Sanam Luang (across from the Grand Palace), 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. A similar ceremony is held in Cambodia.    PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    RoyalPloughingCeremony015.jpg
  • 13 MAY 2013 - BANGKOK, THAILAND:   A woman sifts through the sand looking for rice seeds blessed by Brahmin priests at the Royal Ploughing Ceremony. After the ceremony, thousands of Thais, mostly family formers, rush onto the ploughed ground to gather up the blessed rice seeds sown by the Brahmin priests. The Royal Plowing Ceremony is held Thailand to mark the traditional beginning of the rice-growing season. The date is usually in May, but is determined by court astrologers and varies year to year. During the ceremony, two sacred oxen are hitched to a wooden plough and plough a small field on Sanam Luang (across from the Grand Palace), 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. A similar ceremony is held in Cambodia.  PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    RoyalPloughingCeremony018.jpg
  • 13 MAY 2013 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: A man sells blessed rice seeds his family (background) collected at the Royal Ploughing Ceremony. After the ceremony, thousands of Thais, mostly family formers, rush onto the ploughed ground to gather up the blessed rice seeds sown by the Brahmin priests. The Royal Plowing Ceremony is held Thailand to mark the traditional beginning of the rice-growing season. The date is usually in May, but is determined by court astrologers and varies year to year. During the ceremony, two sacred oxen are hitched to a wooden plough and plough a small field on Sanam Luang (across from the Grand Palace), 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. A similar ceremony is held in Cambodia.    PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
    RoyalPloughingCeremony037.jpg
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Jack Kurtz, Photojournalist & Travel Photographer

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