Introducing the "Khan Thai" an essential element in the "Royal Plowing Ceremony and First Rice Planting Ritual" for the year 2026, a ceremony passed down from ancient times
The "Royal Plowing Ceremony and First Rice Planting Ritual" is a traditional ceremony passed down since ancient times, renowned for its beauty and profound significance to the Thai people, especially those engaged in agriculture.
As for the "Khan Thai" used in this year’s 2026 Royal Plowing Ceremony and First Rice Planting Ritual, it was crafted in 1996 by dairy farmers from Nong Pho, Photharam District, Ratchaburi Province, as a humble offering to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great for use in this ceremony.
This Khan Thai is made from ironwood and is preserved by the Department of Agricultural Extension in the Khan Thai storage building. It comprises the following key components:
1. The Khan Thai itself, painted red lacquer and gilded throughout, measuring 2.26 meters high and 6.59 meters long. The plow’s head is shaped like a Naga serpent’s head, adorned with a sugar palm leaf motif along the body, and the plow’s tip is wrapped in white cloth trimmed with gold for the handle.
2. The ox yoke, 1.55 meters long, decorated at its center with a Garuda figure made of brass, lacquered and gilded, set on a lotus base. Each end of the yoke has ox yoke knobs on both sides for attaching to the ox, complete with a braided rope.
3. The base, made of hardwood, serves to support the Khan Thai and the yoke.
4. The three-tailed flag, an ornament mounted on the Naga head, made of paper and felt, decorated with lacquer and gold leaf patterns and embellished with mirrors and white tassels. It is a ceremonial ornament symbolizing royal honor.
For this year, the Bureau of the Royal Household has scheduled the Royal Plowing Ceremony and First Rice Planting Ritual for 2026 as follows: Tuesday, 12 May 2026 will feature the Buddhist prayer ceremony marking the start of the Royal Plowing Ceremony, held at the Ubosot of Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram in the Grand Palace; Wednesday, 13 May 2026 will be the Brahmin ritual of the first plowing and sowing, held at the ceremonial ground at Sanam Luang.
Information courtesy of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.