Royal oxen eat rice from a bowl at an annual royal plowing ceremony in the capital Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, May 16, 2006. The ceremony was held to mark the start of rice-farming season. Cambodia will enjoy another high rice output from this year's farming season just like in the past year, a royal soothsayer made the prediction at the end of the ceremony. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith) Cambodia's royal astrologer predicts bumper rice crop this year
(Kyodo) - Cambodia's chief astrologer announced Tuesday that the country will have a good rice crop this year.
"The royal oxen have eaten 95 percent of the rice, 75 percent of the corn and 80 percent of the beans. The prediction is that we will have a good crop for the upcoming harvest," Royal Astrologer Korng Ken told a crowd of thousands at Veal Menru field in the heart of the capital.
The Royal Plowing Ceremony takes place every year near the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh at the start of the planting season.
Golden trays with rice, corn, beans, sesame, grass, water, and rice wine are laid out for a pair of royal oxen. Based on their choices, predictions are made for the coming harvest.
According to the royal astrologer, grass signifies bad luck for farmers as insects might disrupt the crops, and wine signifies turmoil and fighting as the country experienced for several decades. The amount of grain eaten signifies how fruitful the harvest will be.
The oxen did not touch the alcohol this year.
Cambodia produced some 5.9 million tons of rice last year.
"The royal oxen have eaten 95 percent of the rice, 75 percent of the corn and 80 percent of the beans. The prediction is that we will have a good crop for the upcoming harvest," Royal Astrologer Korng Ken told a crowd of thousands at Veal Menru field in the heart of the capital.
The Royal Plowing Ceremony takes place every year near the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh at the start of the planting season.
Golden trays with rice, corn, beans, sesame, grass, water, and rice wine are laid out for a pair of royal oxen. Based on their choices, predictions are made for the coming harvest.
According to the royal astrologer, grass signifies bad luck for farmers as insects might disrupt the crops, and wine signifies turmoil and fighting as the country experienced for several decades. The amount of grain eaten signifies how fruitful the harvest will be.
The oxen did not touch the alcohol this year.
Cambodia produced some 5.9 million tons of rice last year.
No comments:
Post a Comment