The Buddhist Harvest Festival, also known as the Ploughing Festival, celebrates the Buddha's first moment of enlightenment. It takes place in May when the moon is half full, as farmers traditionally plow their fields at this time. During the festival, white oxen pull a gold painted plow followed by girls in white who scatter rice seeds. One story explains that as a child, the Buddha fell asleep at the festival and awoke alone, but instead of being scared he began meditating, impressing his father with his calm demeanor.

1. Buddhism Harvest Festival
By Erynn, Charlie and Sonya

2. Introduction
In RME this term we have been learning about
Buddhism.
So Mr Pietri thought it would be a good idea to do a
project on the Buddhist Harvest Festival and compare
our differences.

3. The Ploughing Festival
This festival happens in May when the moon is half full. Instead of celebrating
at the end they celebrate when they plough the ground.
At the festival two white oxen pull a gold painted plough. Which is then
followed by four girls dressed in white. They scatter rice seeds from gold and
silver baskets. This is to celebrate Prince Gautama’s (or the Buddha) first
moment of enlightenment.

4. The story of the Ploughing
Festival
One day Prince Gautama was taken to the ploughing festival by
his father when he was 7 years of age. An annual ploughing
festival was held when the rice fields were being ploughed. The
Prince fell asleep so the maids left him to sleep and went to
join in with the festival.

5. When he woke up he found himself alone.
Instead of being scared he started meditating.
Once the maids returned they were surprised to
find him meditating. The maid straight away
informed the King, he was also surprised and
impressed. He saluted his son and said “This,
dear child is my second salutation”.