Buffalo Racing Festival History
Buffalo Racing Festival History
Buffalo Racing Festival is only available in Chonburi. The festival has been taking place for more than 100 years. It is usually held in October or closely associated with the end of Buddhist Lent in order to express a gratitude to the buffalos after working for farmers throughout the year and to celebrate before the havest season begins. Moreover, there is a belief behind the festival which is if the festival is not held in any year, a bad portent will appear resulting in a death of the buffalos. However, the farmers will take their buffalos to vow with the sacred items for a good fortune. After the farmers get what they want, they will take their buffalos to attend the buffalo racing competition in order to thank the sacred items. The local people will wake up in very early morning in order to clean and dress their buffalos beautifully and appropriately with many decorations from head to toes. The buffalo carts are also prepared containing with the agricultural products to sell at the market. Before the beginning of the ceremony, the offerings, many kinds of foods and dessert, will be prepared for praying to the angels and ghosts asking them to protect the locals, the animals in the village including wishing for a success in the whole of their lives.In addition, a parade of beautifully-decorated buffalos will move to the field at Wat Yai Intharam before starting buffalo competition. For the buffalo racing competition, they will be classified by size: tiny, small, and big. Most of buffalo riders are young man at the age of 10 years old and over. The length of racing field is approximately 100 meters surrounding by cheering teams.
Apart from the must-see buffalo racing, the festival offers a wide range of fun-fille activities that have been created to also mark the importance of the buffalo such as the Healthiest Buffalo Contest, the Buffalo Fashion Contest, the parade from many districts across Chonburi, Miss Farmer Beauty Contest, and other highlights.
Nowadays, buffalo racing festival is annually held by Chonburi Town Municipality at the District Ground. For more information, please contact Chonburi Town Municipality, Tel: 038-283449
