Royal cows predict poor harvest in Cambodia

Post by **PeteC** » Sat May 05, 2007 8:40 pm

If only life was so simple. Pete
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AFP
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.

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.

Post by **DawnHRD** » Sat May 05, 2007 9:45 pm

Joseph & his amazing technicolour dreamcoat, anyone? Or, to be more correct - the biblical story of Joseph & the projected 7 years of famine. Some things never change, even if time & culture does.

Post by **Rider** » Thu May 10, 2007 10:02 pm

Thats right Dawn and the old ways hold strong even now!
Afterall superstition and folklore hold sway even in the West with people still reluctant to walk under ladders and avoid black cats.
Scientists and so-called experts may try and explain away certain things as coincidance and such like but as Byron once said:"The truth is stranger than fiction..."
In SE Asia where the spiritual 'vibe' is stronger still amoungst its people ceremonies such as these only reinforce this.

Post by **PeteC** » Fri May 11, 2007 9:08 am

Thailand just had their ceremony a few days ago. The cows ate corn, rice and grass. Meaning......harvests will be good and water plentiful. Pete

Post by **Farang** » Fri May 11, 2007 6:27 pm

'
Probably Thais astutely made sure the cows were hungry before the ceremony.
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Post by **lomuamart** » Sat May 12, 2007 2:51 am

Farang wrote:'
Probably Thais astutely made sure the cows were hungry before the ceremony.
,

Yup. Starve them for a few days.
It is pretty important for them though.
They lay down in the hills - which means rain, dosn't it?

Post by **Farang** » Sat May 12, 2007 2:33 pm

'
I've no idea where they layeth down and what it meaneth. However, many Asians consider cow most stupid of animals
as it does not eat rice. Yet they believe this stupid beast has the power of prediction on matters of extreme importance.

Goeth Thee & figuret!
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Post by **STEVE G** » Sat May 12, 2007 5:49 pm

Lomu wrote:

They lay down in the hills - which means rain, dosn't it?

I thought with cows, when they stand under a tree it means it's raining!

Post by **PeteC** » Sat May 12, 2007 6:59 pm

STEVE G wrote:Lomu wrote:
They lay down in the hills - which means rain, dosn't it?
I thought with cows, when they stand under a tree it means it's raining!

Where I come from the they lay down before a rain starts. The cows that stand under trees, especially those with a 5 iron in their hooves, usually turn out charbroiled....LOL. Pete

Post by **Farang** » Sat May 12, 2007 8:12 pm

prcscct wrote: Where I come from the they lay down before a rain starts. The cows that stand under trees, especially those with a 5 iron in their hooves, usually turn out charbroiled....LOL. Pete

Just your wishful thinking, I'm sure!
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