PHNOM PENH -- Cambodia's sacred oxen on Monday predicted a dry but peaceful year ahead, eating a healthy diet of beans and rice at the kingdom's ancient royal plowing ceremony, but turning their noses up at a bowl of water.

Offered a range of dishes, the oxen steered clear of alcohol -- which signifies fighting and turmoil -- suggesting the run up to general elections in July would not see the violence that has plagued other polls in the war-scarred southeast Asian nation, Reuters reported.

"The royal cows ate 30 percent of the rice, 96 percent of the beans and 36 percent of the corn. The prediction is that we will have a good crop for this year," royal astrologer Kong Ken told a crowd of several thousands in the Heart of the capital. "But we also pray for regular rain so it can feed the crops."

The ploughing ceremony, its roots lost in history, marks the beginning of the rice planting season and means a great deal to the impoverished nation of around 13 million people, most whom are dependent on farming.

The six royal oxen, their horns clothed in scarlet and gold, plow a furrow three times round a sandy square in front of the capital's national museum -- usually used as a football pitch for school children.

They are then set loose to choose from seven bowls containing water, alcohol, grass, sesame, corn, beans and rice.

Although widely revered, the royal oxen have been known to get it wrong. Last year they finished an entire bowl of rice to raise hopes for a bountiful harvest. However, the late arrival of wet season rains hit overall output.