The Royal Ploughing Ceremony is observed in Thailand on May 13 every year and marks the beginning of the rice growing season. This ancient fertility rite, which has Hindu origins, was merged with a Buddhist ceremony in the mid-19th century by King Mongkut (Rama IV). The event consists of two parts: the Buddhist portion held at the Grand Palace in Bangkok and the Hindu part conducted at Sanam Luang, a square in front of the palace. The ceremony is presided over by the reigning monarch or, in recent years, by Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. During the event, the appointed Lord of the Harvest performs rituals, including the symbolic ploughing of the ground with sacred oxen. The Royal Ploughing Ceremony emphasizes the importance of farming to Thailand's economy and honors the connection between the King, the government, and the farmers. In 1957, it was declared a public holiday in Thailand.