On May 15, the Tich Dien Festival, also known as the Royal Cambodian Rice Paddy Festival, was held in Klaing Prak Hamlet, Pha-er Commune, Kampong Chhnang City, Kampong Chhnang Province, as a symbol of the beginning of the new agricultural crop season in this Southeast Asian country according to traditional customs, with the expectation of a new bumper crop.
The 2025 Tich Dien Festival was presided over by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and attended by senior officials of the Royal Government, Senate, National Assembly, as well as international guests from diplomatic missions in Phnom Penh.
Vietnamese Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia Nguyen Minh Vu attended the event.
The Tich Dien Festival is held in the month of Vesak, around May of the solar calendar every year, and is considered the most important royal ceremony after the coronation of the King in the Kingdom of Cambodia.
This is an annual festival in Cambodia to predict the production season, during the year through choosing food for the sacred cow herd or "Ngưu Vương", for 7 prepared food trays, including: rice, beans, corn, sesame, grass, water and wine.
The event also sends a message, notifying Cambodians, who rely mainly on agriculture, about the beginning of a new planting season.
According to traditional customs and rituals, at this year's festival, the King of Cambodia assigned the role of performing the symbolic plowing ceremony to the local leaders organizing the event.
As “Sdech Meak,” Kampong Chhnang Province Governor Sun Sovannarith, along with his entourage and royal oxen, made symbolic plowings on the sacred field at the event site, within the grounds of Kampong Chhnang City Stadium, Kampong Chhnang Province, in central Cambodia.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sun Sovannarith's wife - Mrs. Phat Sophanny - played the role of "Preah Mehua" and her entourage followed on foot, scattering seeds on the plowed field, symbolizing the beginning, sprouting, and growth of crops in the new season.
After 3 symbolic plowing rounds on the sacred field arranged in the event area, the 3 types of food that the “Ox Kings” love and eat the most are rice (95%), corn (95%) and beans (80%). Through this, the astrologer of the Royal Palace of Cambodia predicted that these 3 types of agricultural crops will yield high yields in this year’s farming season.
Delighted about the event taking place in her home province, Ms. Sok Mean, a farmer in Kampong Chhnang province, said that this traditional custom has been passed down through many generations and is relatively accurate.
According to her, the Xitian Festival is an occasion for her to see and hear messages directly from the King and other high-ranking officials; it is also a reminder of the right time to farm and a source of inspiration for her to choose the right crops for this year's harvest.
Based on Cambodia's latest census, with 63% of households engaged in agricultural production, His Majesty the King and the Royal Government of Cambodia see the ceremony as an opportunity to convey special messages and encourage people to farm.
This is also an opportunity to recognize the important role of water resources and encourage all stakeholders to join hands to effectively use this resource to boost Cambodia's agriculture, which is expected to contribute 16.7% to the Southeast Asian country's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024.
Within the framework of the Tich Dien festival, many diverse activities also took place, such as exhibitions of agricultural products and handicrafts of Kampong Chhnang province, as well as photo exhibitions introducing achievements in the field of agricultural production of the locality in particular and Cambodia in general.
In 2024, this traditional event will be held in Chbar Mon city, Kampong Speu province./.
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/campuchia-khai-hoi-tich-dien-nam-2025-ky-vong-mua-vu-moi-boi-thu-post1038744.vnp
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