Thai sacred oxen forecast bounty

BANGKOK - Sacred Thai oxen predicted good fortunes for the coming year on Thursday with abundant rains and healthy crops, in stark contrast to other forecasts calling for crops to shrink during a ravaging drought.

The ancient plowing ceremony in Buddhist Thailand, overseen by Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, marks the end of the dry season and is meant to herald an auspicious start for the rice-planting season for the world biggest rice exporter.

In a ritual outside the gilded pagodas of Bangkok's Grand Palace telecast live on television, the oxen plowed a symbolic furrow in the dusty ground then munched down on grass offered on banana-leaf platters, signifying a bountiful harvest.