The century-old Wing Kwai (“buffalo racing”) festival came to a close Sunday with races, ritual, and parades.
Last held in 2020 due to the pandemic, the annual festival ended with a blazing sun beating down on the parasols of onlookers, and riders bounding across a dirt track on 500- to 900-kilogram beasts of burden.
Along with traditional dances, a parade of local provinces, and a rather intense game of sao nam-mun (greased pole climbing), Chonburi Buffalo Racing returned with a bang.
The race festival — which isn’t the only Chonburi buffalo race — has been held for over a century, and races and trial runs have actually been going on throughout Chonburi since Oct. 1.
“This is a small one,” a farmer named Mam said as she washed her buffalo with water to keep it cool in the unseasonable heat. “Only one year, but he races today.”
On Sunday, festivities began at 8am with a parade featuring floats and local and regional marching bands. With separate categories for different ages of buffalo, the race is held near the end of Buddhist Lent every year.
Photos: Tyler Roney
