"Keeping the fire" of the bull racing festival

- Amidst the bustling cheers at the bull racing arena in the Bay Nui region, the losers seem to receive little attention. They do not stand on the podium of glory, nor receive awards, but they are the ones who "keep the fire" for the traditional festival of the Khmer ethnic minority in An Giang. For them, each racing season is a journey to continue their passion and preserve the cultural identity of their homeland.

The Bay Nui bull racing festival takes place in Tri Ton district and Tinh Bien town, and is a unique feature of Khmer ethnic minority culture. The festival originated from the ritual of offering to pagodas on the occasion of Sene Dolta. People use bulls to help the pagoda plow the fields after the harvest. Fun races between pairs of bulls to see whose bull is better were gradually organized and developed into a major cultural and sporting event.

For Chau Quanh (residing in Ba Den hamlet, An Cu commune, Tinh Bien town), bull racing is both a competition and a passion. Since 2015, he has regularly participated in the festival. Some years he won a prize, some years he didn’t, but he still happily participated in the following races. “Even if I lose, I will still participate. As long as I have the health and passion, I will continue to race bulls,” Quanh laughed.

Controlling a pair of bulls on the racetrack requires a lot of skill and dexterity. According to Mr. Quanh, the bull rider needs to master the harrow, control the bulls to keep the right direction and speed. In the phase of releasing the bulls, when the pair of bulls run at maximum speed, is the most exciting part of the race. To prepare for the tournament, he often spends 2-3 months training the bulls, helping them get used to the racetrack, improving their ability to control speed. Despite facing many risks of injury, he still perseveres in pursuing his passion. Appearing on the racetrack is a way to preserve cultural traditions, passing that spirit on to the next generation.

The cows are carefully cared for with a special diet.

Behind each pair of racing bulls is a meticulous care process by the bull owner. Mr. Chau Soc On (a long-time bull owner in Vinh Thuong Hamlet, An Cu Commune, Tinh Bien Town) said that taking care of racing bulls takes a lot of effort and money. To be in good shape when competing, they must be fed like athletes, including: chicken, coconut water and fresh grass. At the same time, they sleep under mosquito nets at night to avoid mosquito bites. "Taking care of racing bulls is very expensive, but because of my passion, I still invest. Winning or losing is not important, the important thing is to participate in the festival, contributing to preserving local culture" - Mr. Soc On shared.

The bull racing festival is a physical competition, an opportunity for Khmer ethnic minorities to connect with the community and demonstrate solidarity. Mr. Nguyen Chi Trung (cultural officer of An Cu commune) said: “The festival has become an indispensable part of the life of Khmer ethnic minorities in the Bay Nui area. Bull racing is a folk sport, highly competitive with thrilling, unexpected chases, full of humanity. But the losers are not discouraged. They still come back the next season to continue their passion. They are the winners in the hearts of the community.”

Mr. Trung also believes that the spirit of fair-play and love of culture are the factors that "keep the fire" for this festival. Many pairs of oxen fail because they are not familiar with the field, their competitive spirit is not strong... but the audience always cheers and encourages them and the oxen jockey. Or when the oxen race enters the penalty area, the referee does not see it, but the ox jockey still admits defeat, accepting the remaining team to enter the next round. "They come to the race not only to compete for prizes, but also to contribute to preserving the festival. The losers still stay happily to support and help other pairs of oxen when needed. They see themselves as a part of the festival, contributing to the success of the festival" - Mr. Trung shared more.

After more than 30 years of organization, the Bay Nui Bull Racing Festival has become an important cultural event of An Giang province. The losers still play a role in preserving and developing the festival through each season. Each step of the bulls on the racing field is a story of perseverance and love for Khmer culture. They may lose on the racetrack, but in the journey of preserving tradition, the losers are the true winners.

BICH GIANG

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/an-giang-24-gio/thoi-su/-giu-lua-le-hoi-dua-bo-a415019.html