Rituals in the Rice Fields

For families who have been farming rice for generations in Northern Thailand, it is more than just a job. It is a celebration of life and a vocation that connects them as communities to the wonders of nature and the mysteries of life, and supplies them with sustenance, revenue and a source of pride.

And because they do not take their task lightly, they conclude every working day on a high note, parading through the work arena in an upbeat way that respects and gives thanks for the soil, the weather and the water, which combined with their labour, yields the bounties of beautiful rice.

At 4:45 pm, after planting, tending or harvesting the crop for the day, about 40 farmers and gardeners parade through the Lobby of Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai. Having gathered in a group, they file through the rice barn and onwards into the rice fields one-by-one, carrying and playing their traditional percussion, wind and string musical instruments.

Then at a central place, they stop and perform an impromptu concert, playing their instruments and singing traditional folk songs of life and songs of the season, such as the Loy Krathong Festival song, Kamen Lai Kwai” and the Elephant song.

Several dancers take turns to entertain with bird, butterfly, grasshopper, dragonfly, fish and frog inspired choreography, showing how well they understand those they share the fields with and the deep affection they have for them.

It is sincere, heart-felt and hauntingly beautiful performance. And our guests enjoy it all the more for that.

As the farmers lift their spirits after a hard day’s toil in the fields, surrounded by so many shades of green, against the majestic mountain and lake backdrop and with lighting courtesy of the setting sun, the scene is set for a moving spectacle that lingers long in the memory.