The Royal Ploughing Ceremony is an ancient royal tradition observed in Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand to mark the traditional beginning of the rice-growing season.

The tradition has Hindu and Buddhist origins and is intended to honour farmers and bless the plants and ceremonial start to the new growing season.

In the ceremony, Oxen are covered in red and gold and circle the ceremonial ground nine times, as a nine is a lucky and auspicious number in Thailand.

There are 16 million rice workers in Thailand and Thailand is the second-largest exporter of rice in the world, underlining the importance of a good rice growing season to the country’s economy.

The Royal Ploughing Ceremony is held at Bangkok’s Sanam Luang, an open field and public square in front of Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace. It is often attended by royalty and the ceremony is broadcast on national television.

As Royal Ploughing Day is a holiday for civil servants and state enterprise workers, and government offices will be closed. Banks and companies carry on as normal and the sale of alcohol is permitted. Post offices will close on a half-day.