The Royal Ploughing ceremony, or Pithi Chrat Preah Neanng Korl in Khmer, and the Festival of Water and full Moon Salutation, know as Pithi Bonn Om Touk and Ak Ambok Sampeah preah Kher in
Khmer, are such ceremonies. Predictions gleaned from these traditional
ceremonies for the coming year are taken very seriously.
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The Festival of Water and Full Moon Salutation is
celebrated usually in late October. Drippings from burning candles
predict rainfall distribution to provinces across the country. The Royal
Ploughing Ceremony predicts the weather, epidemics and farming
conditions.
By observing what feed the royal oxen choose after the Royal Ploughing
Ceremony, Cambodians believe they can predict a range of events
including epidemics, floods, good harvests and excessive rainfall.
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This year, the Royal Ploughing Ceremony was held on May 11 at the Veal Preahmein Square, situated across the road from the northern perimeter of the Royal Palace.
At the end of a symbolic Ploughing procession before
His Majesty King Norodom Sihanouk, the royal oxen were relieved of their
harnesses and led to seven golden trays containing rice, corn, sesame
seeds, beans, grass, water and wine to feed. The royal oxen chose to eat
out of only three trays this year and because their feast consisted of
varying percentages of rice and corn while they largely ignored the
trays of sesame seeds, grass, water and wine, prognostications were as
follows: Farmers would enjoy a moderate output for their rice harvest
but good yields in secondary crop production, especially corn and beans.
Because the royal oxen only sniffed on the tray of water and turned
away from the wine, the prediction was made that farmers would not
suffer any serious floods.
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Every year, Cambodian farmers anxiously await the
predictions at the end of this ritualistic ceremony, which they observe
with strong faith and belief. Most Cambodians today still consult
traditional manuals before making any major decisions regarding business
matters or meeting important persons, etc.
The Royal Ploughing Ceremony has been observed for
many centuries at the initiative of an earlier Khmer king who had paid
great attention to farming conditions of the people. Traditionally, the Pithi Chrat Pheah Neang Korl is performed in the month of the Khmer calendar and marks the beginning of the rainy season in Cambodia.
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When asked, most Cambodians stand staunchly by these
traditional methods of predicting the future and vouch for their
accuracy. It is comforting to believe that the angels are still watching
over us. As they say in Cambodia, long live the Khmer traditions. Long
Live Cambodia. |