The annual Royal Ploughing Ceremony, where holy cows are used to predict the fortunes of the upcoming crop takes place outside the National Museum in Phnom Penh today (23 May 08).

The Royal Ploughing Ceremony is traditionally held in May, at the start of the rainy season when local farmers begin preparing the soil for sowing.

The ceremony is a very colourful event with all participants wearing traditional silk costumes, and many dignitaries are present and it is presided over by the King. The ceremony is based around a procession of 3 royal which walk around the ‘Royal Rice Fields’ (outside the National Museum) 3 times. The second plough in the procession is traditionally controlled by the King, and the third plough sows the seeds.

After this the 3 holy cows are walked to the centre of the field where a group of Brahmans (holy men) offer them 7 bowls containing one each of the following: water, rice, soybeans, sesame, corn, grass and wine. Depending on the quantities of each that the holy cows consume the Brahmans will consult and announce a prediction of the coming years farming season.

Generally the predictions are based on the following:
Water: if the holy cows drink water it means there will be good rainfall
Rice: if the holy cows eat the rice it means a good harvest for farmers in the year ahead
Soybeans: if the holy cows eat soybeans it means there will a bountiful harvest of soybeans
Sesame: if the holy cows eat sesame it means there will a bountiful harvest of sesame
Corn: if the holy cows eat corn it means there will a bountiful harvest of corn
Grass: Soybeans: if the holy cows eat grass it means disease will prevail over the nation
Wine: if the holy cows drink wine it means the nation will suffer at the hands of gangsters, robbers, or drunkards!

If you wish to experience the Royal Ploughing Ceremony in 2009 please contact Asia Adventures who can organized an exciting tour based around the Ceremony: info@asia-adventures.com