The Royal Plowing Ceremony is a long-standing traditional festival in Cambodia, held annually on the fourth day of the waning moon in the sixth month of the Buddhist calendar (usually in May of the Gregorian calendar). The festival’s main purpose is to pray to the deities for favorable weather and a bountiful harvest in the coming year.
The origins of the Royal Plowing Ceremony can be traced back to the Angkor period. At that time, changes in the natural environment had a significant impact on crop yields, and agricultural production was a vital foundation for the country’s development.
Therefore, under the advice of royal Brahmin soothsayers, the king would personally lead sacred oxen to perform symbolic plowing in the royal fields before the arrival of the rainy season. This act demonstrated reverence for nature and respect for the deities, expressing hopes for divine blessings and a fruitful harvest. It also served to convey the gods’ guidance on agricultural matters to the farmers.
Starting from the Udong (Udong) Dynasty, the king no longer performed the plowing himself. Instead, the task was delegated to a royal family member or the Minister of Agriculture, who was given the title “King Meak (Royal Plowing King)”. Today, the king still attends the ceremony in person, while the role of the “King Meak” is typically performed by a provincial governor. Behind him follows a woman dressed as a celestial maiden who scatters seeds—this symbolic figure is called “Queen Mehua”, a role now typically performed by the governor’s wife.
This ancient and legendary agricultural ritual actually begins two days before the Royal Plowing Ceremony itself. On the evening before the event, people hold a fire offering ritual to pray for the smooth and successful performance of the Royal Plowing Ceremony.
On the day of the Royal Plowing Ceremony, the atmosphere is both solemn and festive. The King of Cambodia, government officials, foreign guests, and local citizens gather at the Royal Field north of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh to witness this ancient ritual together.
Accompanied by a grand procession in ceremonial attire, the “King Meak” and the “Queen Mehua” make their way from the Royal Palace to the Royal Field. After the priest blows the conch shell three times, the “King Meak” takes hold of the plow, and the “Queen Mehua” scatters seeds. Meanwhile, Brahmin priests sprinkle holy water as a blessing, praying for a bountiful harvest.
Next comes the sacred oxen feeding ritual. The oxen chosen to perform the plowing are referred to as “sacred oxen”. After the plowing, they are led to seven silver trays, each containing a different offering—rice, corn, mung beans, sesame, grass, water, and wine. The oxen are then allowed to eat freely from these trays.
According to tradition, if the sacred oxen eat one or more of the grains—such as rice, corn, mung beans, or sesame—it foretells a good harvest of those crops in the coming year. If one particular grain is almost entirely consumed, it signals a bumper crop. However, if the oxen eat mostly grass, it is believed to predict outbreaks of disease or crop damage from pests. Drinking excessive amounts of water is seen as a warning of potential flooding, while drinking wine is thought to foretell an increase in crimes such as robbery and theft.
The Royal Plowing Ceremony embodies the ancient agricultural wisdom of Cambodia and reflects the Cambodian people’s deep hopes for a prosperous and harmonious life. Today, it also serves as a cultural bridge, fostering exchange and mutual understanding between Cambodia and the rest of the world.
