Sanam Luang (Royal Plaza)

Sanam Luang (Royal Plaza)

Highlights

Every May, the King presides over the "Royal Ploughing Ceremony" here. Introduction

Sanam Luang is located in central Bangkok, north of the Grand Palace, covering an area of over 120,000 square meters. The oval-shaped plaza is lined with tamarind trees. It is the venue for many important royal and government ceremonies. The plaza is also a place where Thai people gather to relax and enjoy leisure activities. Every May, the King presides over the "Royal Ploughing Ceremony" here. The exact date is chosen by the King, and he oversees the ceremony. In advance, the Minister of Agriculture (usually serving as the Agriculture Minister) is appointed to organize and implement the event.

The main process of the ceremony begins with a religious ritual, where monks chant sutras and sprinkle holy water to pray for good weather and a bountiful harvest throughout the year. "Sacred cows" are then offered several types of feed to choose from, which predicts the weather and crop yields. Next, the Minister of Agriculture leads the farming procession into the plaza. The team includes the Minister leading the "sacred cow," attendants carrying a plow, and four "lady attendants" bearing royal seeds (referred to by Thais as "golden baskets" and "silver baskets"). After the Minister symbolically plows the field, the "royal seeds" are scattered onto the land, followed by a sprinkling of water to signify irrigation. This concludes the ceremony. Following the event, spectators rush into the plaza to collect the "royal seeds," which they take home to mix with their own seeds before planting, hoping for a better harvest at the end of the year. The "Royal Ploughing Ceremony" lasts about two hours, is highly ceremonial, and features a lively atmosphere, attracting many visitors to watch.

Bangkok, Thailand