This ceremony usually takes place at the end of the dry season in early May when Khmer farmers begin preparing their fields for new crops. The field beside the Royal Palace is plowed by specially chosen oxen, who are then led to trays containing various grains, grasses, and water. Based on what the oxen choose to eat, farmers make predictions about the upcoming harvest and agricultural season. The King himself often attends this ceremony, which has been observed for many centuries.