Phnom Penh: The Royal Ploughing ceremony, which marks the beginning of the crop planting season in the country, will be celebrated this year on May 15 on an over-one-hectare plot of land in Koh Norea village, Sangkat Niroth, Khan Chbar Ampov, Phnom Penh capital.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the information was shared on Tuesday when Phnom Penh Municipal Governor H.E. Khuong Sreng accompanied Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Royal Palace, Samdech Moha Montrei Kuy Sophal to conduct a field inspection of the designated location for the upcoming celebration.

Generally, His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, presides over the annual celebration. The governor of the host province or capital plays the role of ‘King Meak’ by guiding the royal oxen and plowing around the Royal Field, while his spouse is ‘Queen Mehua’ by walking behind scattering seeds on the furrowed ground.

Usually held in May, the celebration mainly intends to flag up the commencement of the rainy season among Cambodian farmers so that they are prepared for their farming, and to pray for a bountiful harvest for the year.

According to the tradition, the ceremony is annually celebrated to predict the upcoming distribution of rainfall, thus rice harvesting, in the country through the oxen’s appetite for paddy, corn, bean, grass, sesame, water, and wine.

Last year, this traditional event took place in Chbar Mon city of Kampong Speu province.