Late May, one day. The Royal Ploughing Ceremony dates back to the times  when
the reigning king traced the first furrows in the capital’s sacred rice
field, thus inaugurating the ploughing season. Today, the ritual is
performed at the start of the rainy season in late May each year, with
representatives of the king taking the role of King Meakh, who leads the
yoke and plough, and Queen Mehour, who sows the seeds. After circling
the field three times, the procession stops at a shrine where Brahmins
invoke the protection of the gods. Sacred cows are then brought to eat
from seven silver trays containing such things as rice, corn, beans,
sesame seeds, grass, water and wine, and predictions are made for the
coming year based upon what they select. The harvest will be good if
they choose the cereals, rain will be abundant if they drink water, but
trouble is feared if they eat herbs or drink alcohol.
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