Buffalo riders compete during an
annual buffalo race in Chonburi, Friday, Oct. 18. The annual race is a
celebration among rice farmers before harvesting rice. (AP Photo/Apichart
Weerawong)
Story & Photos by CPRD
Buffaloes of all shapes and colors thundered over a 100-meter track in
Chonburi, astounding crowds with their terrific speed - and poor sense of
direction - as the province hosted its 142nd annual buffalo races.
Jockeys rode more than 100 of the beasts from across the kingdom down the dirt
track in races offering both serious cash prizes and laughs.
The Oct. 14-20 festival outside Chonburi City Hall also highlighted traditional
heritage, including the annual “Kwienkan” parade and the sale of locally
produced products. Young women competed in the annual beauty pageant. The
buffalos got their turn with a costume contest.
The annual festivities also include a
buffalo costume contest.
More than 300 Chonburi businesses offered their wares and
food while other booths featured games including puzzle-guessing, oily
post-climbing, cutting kite strings with glass dust, takraw, and Muay Thai
boxing.
The competitions began with a tug-of-war between a buffalo and national
weightlifters. As for the races themselves, competitions were divided into
categories for super junior, junior, middle, senior and super champ buffaloes.
There were also contests for the best decorated, beautiful and comedic
buffaloes, and a breeding contest.
Provincial historians believe the races and festival were first held when
Chonburi was the center of trade for the eastern part of Thailand. Farmers and
merchants from the region would descend on Chonburi’s Ban Beung District to
trade their goods, bringing their produce and wares by way of buffalo drawn
carts. What exactly transpired prompting the first race is uncertain, but
provincial historians suggest that it probably started at Wat Luang, now called
Wat Yai Intharam.
Merchants would park their carts near the market and the water buffalo were
tethered off to the side to rest, or taken to bathe following the trip into town
where lotus flowers were collected for offerings at the temple. Presumably,
there were some fun-seeking individuals at the annual gathering who, at the end
of Buddhist Lent and before leaving Chonburi, would gather and race their
buffalo for a bit of fun and camaraderie. Water buffalo races eventually became
a common reoccurrence each year.
Some of the buffalo jockeys fell off
their animals during the race. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)
During the reign of King Rama VI, His Majesty King Mongkut
visited Chonburi and proudly witnessed the event on December 7, 1912, which
helped commemorate the event to this day. Other records indicate that Rama V
also witnessed the buffalo races in Chonburi, remarking that the enjoyable event
should be preserved as a national tradition.
A young Thai buffalo rider, center,
raises his arm after winning a preliminary round race during. (AP Photo/Apichart
Weerawong)
Riders sprint their buffaloes at the
start of a 120-meter-long track. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)
There is also a contest for best
breeding.
A young Thai rider jumps off the
back of his buffalo during the annual buffalo races in Chonburi. (AP
Photo/Apichart Weerawong)
Buffalo riders cross the finish line
during. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)
The starting gun sounds, and off they
go!
A young Thai buffalo rider sprints
past the spectator’s stand. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)
Elaborately ordained carts are
eye-catchers in the opening festivities parade.
The Oct. 14-20 festival outside
Chonburi City Hall also highlighted traditional heritage, including the annual
“Kwienkan” parade.
