Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – The Cambodian National and International Celebrations Committee recently announced that this year's traditional Royal Ploughing Festival will be held in Prey Veng Province from May 2nd to 5th. King Norodom Sihamoni will personally preside over the ceremony, joining national leaders and people from all walks of life in this millennia-old royal tradition, preserving the essence of Cambodian traditional culture.
According to the official guidelines released by the committee, the Royal Ploughing Festival will last four days, strictly adhering to ancient customs. The first three days will be led by a team of Brahmin priests, conducting traditional sacrificial and blessing ceremonies to express reverence for the gods and hopes for a bountiful harvest. On May 5th, the final day of the festival, the core Royal Ploughing Ceremony will be held, presided over by King Sihamoni himself, marking the official start of Cambodia's national agricultural planting season.
To ensure the success and smooth running of the festival, various Cambodian government departments have activated a close cooperation mechanism. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, and other departments will jointly set up exhibition booths to showcase Cambodia's high-quality agricultural products; the Prey Veng Provincial Government will highlight the province's latest achievements in agriculture, handicrafts, and social development.
Each department has a clear division of labor and works collaboratively: the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Economy and Finance are responsible for the allocation of ceremonial supplies and budget; the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and the Prey Veng Provincial Government will jointly create spectacular cultural performances to showcase the charm of national culture; the Ministry of National Defense is fully responsible for security, traffic, and discipline during the celebrations, and will arrange for the Honor Guard and military band to perform the highest royal protocol; the Ministry of Information will provide comprehensive live coverage of the various activities through official media such as the National Radio and National Television, allowing the public to stay informed about the grand occasion.
The Royal Ploughing Ceremony is an important symbol of Cambodian traditional culture and a crucial signal for farmers to begin a new round of labor. During the formal celebrations, Brahmin priests will chant prayers and guide the "sacred ox" pulling the plow to select food from seven silver platters containing rice, mung beans, corn, sesame seeds, fresh grass, water, and wine.
According to ancient Cambodian tradition, the choice of food for the sacred cow is regarded as an important symbol for predicting the country's fortune in the coming year. The core meaning is to pray for the gods to bless the country with favorable weather, timely rain, and abundant harvests, while also encouraging farmers across the country to devote themselves to farming and work hard to become wealthy.
