Exciting bull racing festival in Bay Nui, An Giang.

On September 21st, the 18th Tri Ton District Traditional Bull Racing Festival 2024 took place at the Ta Pa-Soai Chek Sports and Tourism Area, Nui To commune, Tri Ton district (An Giang province). This year's festival featured 38 pairs of bulls from communes and towns with Khmer ethnic minority communities in Tri Ton district.

The Bay Nui bull racing festival is a unique feature of An Giang province.

According to a reporter from the Tin Tuc newspaper, at around 6 a.m. that same day, despite the heavy rain, a large number of local residents and tourists flocked to the Ta Pa-Soai Chek Sports and Tourism Area in Nui To commune, Tri Ton district, where the traditional Tri Ton district bull racing festival was taking place, to cheer on the participants.

People braved the rain to watch and cheer on the competing pairs of bulls.

The cattle owners take care of their pairs of cattle before participating in the competition.

Pairs of oxen participating in the 18th Tri Ton District Traditional Ox Racing Festival in 2024.

The bull race consists of two rounds. In the first round (called the "calling round"), the bull handler moves slowly before entering the actual race. When the referee waves the flag, the handler uses a round wooden stick, about 1 meter long, with a small sharp nail at the end, to prod the bull's flank, forcing it to sprint at full speed for the final 120 meters (the "release round") to the finish line.

The format of the bull racing competition is a knockout system based on a draw.

The oxen engage in thrilling sprints.

The bull handler uses a round wooden stick, about 1 meter long, with a small, sharp nail at the end, to prod the bull's flank, urging it to sprint to the finish line.

As the pairs of oxen sprint to the finish line, the audience claps and cheers for the ox handlers, making the ox racing festival extremely lively and exciting.

People wearing raincoats watched and cheered on the pairs of oxen participating in the competition.

Chau Roth, a Khmer ethnic resident of Tri Ton town (An Giang province), said: “I’ve been raising these oxen for four years now and they’ve participated in many races and won several prizes. This year, I’m bringing them to the traditional Tri Ton District Ox Racing Festival again and will try to win a prize to participate in the final on September 29th in Tinh Bien district.”

Chau Roth, a Khmer man residing in Tri Ton town (An Giang province), holds a round piece of wood that fits comfortably in his hand, with a small, sharp nail attached to the end, which he uses to spur the bull's flanks to make it sprint to the finish line.

Mr. Tran Minh Giang, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Tri Ton District (An Giang Province) and Head of the Organizing Committee, said: “The traditional Bay Nui Bull Racing Festival in Tri Ton District is an annual event held in the atmosphere of celebrating the Sene Dolta Festival of the Khmer people. This is a sport deeply rooted in the culture of the Southern Khmer people. In 2016, the Bay Nui Bull Racing Festival was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.”

In the highest-speed race, the pairs of oxen showcase the strength and skill of their handlers to reach the finish line as quickly as possible.

The ox handler must skillfully control the pair of oxen while using a round piece of wood to nudge the oxen's sides, urging them to sprint at full speed to reach the finish line as quickly as possible.

The oxen sprinted towards the finish line.

According to Mr. Giang, the bull racing festival aims to introduce and promote the image of Bay Nui bull racing, the potential, advantages, and unique tourism products and types of the locality to a large number of people inside and outside the district and tourists visiting the area; contributing to promoting the socio-economic development of the district. "Through this bull racing festival, we aim to select the best and strongest bull pairs to participate in the 29th Bay Nui Bull Racing Festival for the An Giang Television Cup in 2024, which will be held on September 29th in Tinh Bien district," Mr. Giang said.

After the competition, the winning pairs of oxen were led by their owners to the ceremonial area to receive their prizes.

The organizing committee presented awards to the cattle owners participating in the 18th competition in 2024.

By noon the same day, after a knockout competition between the teams, the Organizing Committee selected the pairs of oxen that won first, second, third, and fourth prizes, as well as four consolation prizes, to participate in the 29th An Giang Television Cup in 2024, on September 29th in Tinh Bien district.

Photo gallery: Manh Linh/News Report

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/anh/soi-dong-hoi-dua-bo-bay-nui-o-an-giang-20240921144851650.htm