Royal sacred white oxen are offered food to consult the oracles during the Royal Ploughing Ceremony at the Royal Ground, Sanam Luang near the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, 09 May 2016. The ancient Brahmin rite is of great importance to the country's farmers. Thousands of farmers converge in Bangkok for the annual event, which is believed to assure a successful planting season and an abundance of crops. This year the sacred oxen ate paddy, sesame seeds, water and liquor which according to traditional soothsayers predicts that the country will have abundant food, sufficient water for agriculture as well as communication and foreign trade will improve leading to the prosperous economy. (Photo by Rungroj Yongrit/EPA)





Thai officials dressed in traditional costumes walks with oxen during the aannual royal ploughing ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2016. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters)





Thai officials dressed in traditional costumes walk with oxen during the annual royal ploughing ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2016. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters)





Thai officials dressed in traditional costumes throw rice during the annual royal ploughing ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2016. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters)





Thai officials dressed in traditional costumes throw rice during the annual royal ploughing ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2016. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters)





Thai officials dressed in traditional costumes walks with oxen during the annual royal ploughing ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2016. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters)





A basket is seen filled with rice during the annual royal ploughing ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2016. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters)





Thai officials dressed in traditional costumes walks with oxen during the annual royal ploughing ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2016. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters)





Thai officials dressed in traditional costumes throw rice during the annual royal ploughing ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2016. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters)





A boy jumps past barriers to collect rice seeds after the annual royal ploughing ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2016. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters)





A Thai official dressed in traditional costumes walk during the annual royal ploughing ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2016. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters)





People rush past barriers to collect rice seeds after the annual royal ploughing ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2016. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters)





Thai officials dressed in traditional costumes feed oxen during the annual royal ploughing ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2016. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters)





Theerapat prayurasiddhi, Permanent Secretary of the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, dressed in a traditional costume, throws rice grains during the annual royal ploughing ceremony in central Bangkok, Thailand, May 9, 2016. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters)