Holy cow! Royal cows predict poor harvest to come

Saturday, May 05, 2007
Royal cows predict poor harvest in Cambodia

Cambodia's royal cows signalled a drought and poor harvests in an ancient ceremony Saturday to mark the beginning of the kingdom's planting season.

PHNOM PENH (AFP) - King Norodom Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Sen joined thousands of Cambodians for the annual ceremony as royal astrologers fed the cows seven dishes -- rice, corn, beans, sesame, grass, water and rice wine -- laid out on trays.

Hun Sen, who rebuked royal astrologers for failing to predict the deadly floods in 2001 that claimed 59 lives, said he was hopeful that the kingdom would be blessed with good harvests.

"We hope all spirits will help Cambodian farmers to get good agricultural production," the prime minister said at the start of the traditional ceremony held at a park near Phnom Penh's Royal Palace.

But the cows only ate corn, meaning Cambodia, one of the world's poorest nations struggling after three decades of civil war, could suffer this year.

"The royal cows ate only 45 percent of the corn, which means Cambodia could suffer a severe drought and bad harvests," chief astrologer Kang Ken told onlookers.

Cambodia frequently suffers from drought and flooding, threatening the livelihoods of millions in the impoverished nation.

While still taken seriously by many rural Cambodians, the ploughing ceremony predictions have been called into question in recent years.

Royal astrologer: Wives of high officials generally content during the year of the pig

Mrs. Bun Rany Hun Sen, wife of the highest ranking official in Cambodia.
Cambodians, especially women, can now feel at ease during the year of the pig as the Royal Palace soothsayer predicts that "wives of high officials [are] generally content" during this coming year. The soothsayer also predicts a good year for Cambodia's waitresses, this prediction should be welcomed by Cambodian beer-girls who have so far endured dire treatments from rich and powerful beer-garden patrons.

Apr 14, 2007
Cambodia grinds to a halt to welcome new Year of the Pig

DPA

Phnom Penh - Cambodia began three days of intense partying Saturday as people welcomed the new Year of the Pig and said goodbye to the Year of the Dog.

The goddess Mohatearak Devi, who sits astride the divine pig which will rule the heavens for the coming year, arrived just after midday, according to astrologers.

In between parties, games and traditional dances, Cambodians made traditional offerings of meats, fruits, incense and other delicacies of the goddess and prayed for good luck and good fortune for the coming year.

But Royal Palace astrologer Im Borin said the new year will bring some hardships, with a poor rice crop, stormy weather and a 'big problem in Phnom Penh' predicted in the coming months.

It will be a good year for women however, according to the venerable soothsayer, with the wives of high officials generally content and the nation's legion of waitresses in line for prosperity and property.

Although Khmers have recently adopted the practice of throwing powder and water from neighbouring Thailand, which also celebrates a lunar new year at this time, authorities have frowned on the practice, calling it 'un-Cambodian' and have warned it will not be tolerated throughout most of the capital.

However roads have been choked in recent days with Cambodians cramming onto public transport in an effort to reach their provincial family homes to celebrate the season with loved ones and friends, and the capital appeared largely deserted Saturday.

The three-day celebrations represent one of the most important social and religious events in the Cambodian calendar and the country grinds to a halt until next Tuesday, when the holiday officially ends.