Exciting Bay Nui bull racing festival 2024

On September 29, at Tho Mit Pagoda (Vinh Trung Commune, Tinh Bien Town, An Giang Province), the Bay Nui bull racing festival took place on the occasion of the Sene Dolta (ancestor worship ceremony) of the Khmer people.

This year's bull racing festival attracted 64 pairs of bulls from Tinh Bien, Tri Ton, Chau Thanh, Chau Phu, Thoai Son districts (An Giang) and Giang Thanh district ( Kien Giang province).

Pairs of oxen parade before the competition. Photo: An Giang Newspaper

The Bay Nui Bull Racing Festival is the most anticipated event of the year for the Khmer people in An Giang. Furthermore, the Bay Nui Bull Racing Festival is held completely free of charge, with no entrance fee required.

Therefore, very early, many local people were present at Tho Mit Pagoda to watch the special competitions of 64 pairs of oxen.

In terms of the competition format, the owners of the oxen draw lots to choose which pair of oxen will go first or second. Usually, the second pair will have the advantage. If during the race, any pair of oxen veers off the track, they will be disqualified. The driver (called the jockey) must stand firmly, otherwise if he falls or falls off the harrow, he will be considered the loser.

According to the rules of bull racing, the pairs of bulls run a lap (slow run), then move to the release lap (fast run) on a 100m (or 120m) track. The pair that crosses the finish line first wins.

In case of entering the release round, 30m or more from the starting point, if the following pair steps on the harrow of the previous pair, they are recognized as winners, without having to reach the finish line.

A tense competition. Photo: An Giang Newspaper

The bull racing festival is a unique form of agricultural festival of the Khmer people in the Bay Nui region. Bull racing is not only a sport but also an opportunity to unite the community, preserve traditional culture and create opportunities for people to exchange and learn from each other; at the same time, promote the image of the Bay Nui region to a large number of people in the country and internationally.

The Vu

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/tung-bung-le-hoi-dua-bo-bay-nui-2024-post314444.html