Buffalo wool season in the Southwest

Every year, during the flood season from July to November of the lunar calendar, the buffalo herds make their way from one field to another, looking for high ground to stop and feed. True to the meaning of the Khmer word “len” meaning “freedom”, “len trau” means letting the buffalo roam freely, mentioned in the work “Mua len trau” in the short story collection Huong rung Ca Mau (published in 1962) by the late writer Son Nam.

The scene of buffalo moving prominently on the grasslands from a high angle creates a memorable picture of “buffalo wool season”. It is the gratitude of humans to the buffalo that works hard all year round, helping in farming work.

Photo: Ngo Thanh Binh

Heritage Magazine