An Ancient Ceremony
The ceremony has Brahminic origins, dating back to a period before Buddhism, but under King Rama IV a Buddhist component to the ceremony was added. By the 1920s the ceremony had been discontinued, but it was revived by the present King Bhumipol Adulyadej in 1960. The ceremony takes place in Bangkok, at the Sanam Luang, the field in front of the Grand palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. In Thai, the ceremony is known as Kan Phuet Cha Mongkon (การพืชมงคล). It is presided over by either the King or, more recently, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. There is also present a Brahmin master of ceremonies known as the Lord of the Festival.