Exciting Bay Nui Bull Racing Festival in An Giang

On September 21, the 18th Tri Ton District Traditional Bull Racing Festival in 2024 took place at Ta Pa-Soai Chek Sports and Tourism Area, Nui To Commune, Tri Ton District (An Giang). This year's Bull Racing Festival was attended by 38 pairs of bulls from communes and towns with Khmer ethnic people living in Tri Ton District.

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

According to the reporter of Tin Tuc newspaper, at around 6 am on the same day, despite the heavy rain, many people inside and outside the district and tourists flocked to Ta Pa-Soai Chek Sports and Tourism Area, Nui To commune, Tri Ton district, where the Tri Ton district traditional bull racing festival took place to cheer.

People "brave" the rain to watch and cheer for the pairs of bulls competing.

The cow owner takes care of the cows before participating in the contest.

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

Bull racing consists of 2 laps, lap 1 (called the calling lap), the bull driver moves slowly before entering the actual racing lap. When the referee waves the flag, the driver will use a round piece of wood that fits in his hand, about 1 meter long, with a small sharp nail on the end, to push the bull's flank to sprint at full speed in the last 120 meters (the release lap) to reach the finish line.

The form of the Bull Racing Festival is a draw and knockout competition.

The thrilling acceleration of the pair of bulls.

The bull driver uses a round piece of wood about 1 meter long, with a small sharp nail on the end, to push the bull's flank to make it sprint to the finish line.

When the pairs of racing bulls sprint to the finish line, the audience claps and cheers for the drivers, making the bull racing festival extremely bustling and exciting.

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

Chau Roth, a Khmer ethnic, living in Tri Ton town (An Giang), said: “I have raised my pair of cows for 4 years now and have participated in many competitions and won some awards. This year, I will continue to bring this pair of cows to participate in the Tri Ton district traditional cow racing festival and will try to win an award to participate in the final match on September 29 in Tinh Bien district.”

Chau Roth, a Khmer ethnic, living in Tri Ton town (An Giang), holds a round piece of wood with a small sharp nail on the end to push the cow's flank to make it sprint to the finish line.

Mr. Tran Minh Giang, Vice Chairman of Tri Ton District People's Committee (An Giang), Head of the Organizing Committee, said: "The traditional Bay Nui Bull Racing Festival of Tri Ton District is an annual activity held in the atmosphere of celebrating the Sene Dolta Festival of the Khmer people. This is a sport that bears the strong imprint of Southern Khmer culture. 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 run, pairs of bulls demonstrate their strength and the dexterity of their bull drivers to reach the finish line the fastest.

The ox driver must skillfully control the pair of oxen while using a round wooden stick to nudge the oxen's flanks to make them sprint at full speed to reach the finish line as quickly as possible.

The pairs of oxen sprinted to 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, products, and unique types of local tourism to a large number of people inside and outside the district and tourists coming to visit and travel; contributing to promoting the socio-economic development of the district. "Through this Bull Racing Festival, we aim to select good and strong pairs of bulls to participate in the 29th Bay Nui Bull Racing Festival for the An Giang Television Cup in 2024, which will be held on September 29 in Tinh Bien district," said Mr. Giang.

After the competition, the winning pairs of cows were led by their owners to the stage to receive their awards.

The Organizing Committee awarded prizes to cow owners participating in the 18th Competition in 2024.

By noon of the same day, after the knockout competition between the teams, the Organizing Committee selected the pairs of oxen that won the First, Second, Third, Fourth prizes and 4 Encouragement prizes to participate in the 29th An Giang Television Cup in 2024 on September 29 in Tinh Bien district.

Photo series: Manh Linh/Tin Tuc Newspaper

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