Buffalo fighting festival: The chivalrous spirit of Nghe An province.
(Baonghean)The buffalo fighting festival in Nghi Thai commune (Nghi Loc district) took place over two days, from September 12th to 13th, attracting thousands of people from Phuc-Thai-Tho and Vinh City, as well as visitors from other regions.
This is the third year this "commune-level" festival has been held, with the participation of 16 buffaloes. The buffalo fighting festival concluded successfully with a prize of 15 million VND awarded to buffalo number 36, owned by Mr. Dang Van Ngoc from Thai Loc hamlet, Nghi Thai commune, Nghi Loc district.
The buffalo fighting festival clearly demonstrates the chivalrous spirit and heroic character, deeply rooted in the rice-farming civilization of ancient Vietnam. No one knows exactly when this festival originated, but today it has become a beautiful traditional cultural feature in many localities throughout the country, such as Do Son district, Hai Phong city, Lap Thach district, Vinh Phuc province… and recently in Nghi Thai commune, Nghi Loc district, Nghe An province. In Nghi Thai commune, buffaloes have been participating in the arena since 2009 with 2 buffaloes, and in 2010 with 5 buffaloes. This year, the scale and scope of the festival have grown significantly, with 16 buffaloes competing, and the professionalism of the event, including arena guards and buffalo managers from Do Son, Hai Phong (where the national-level buffalo fighting festival is held annually).
Two "bulls" locked horns, sparks flying.
Spectators braved the rain to attend the festival.
In Do Son, people painstakingly hunt for fighting buffaloes, traveling to remote mountain villages, even to Laos and Cambodia, spending weeks eating and sleeping to select the best one, investing hundreds of millions of dong in its care until it enters the arena. In Nghe An, however, the practice of buffalo fighting is more primitive and simpler. The "buffalo fighters" of the Nghi Thai arena are all selected from their own farms, still working alongside farmers, with a diet only slightly better than regular buffaloes… That being said, "the hobby requires much effort," and not every buffalo can "fight." Mr. Nguyen Van Chung, owner of buffalo number 5, shared his experience in selecting buffaloes: Fighting buffaloes must have thick, liver-like, red eyes with prominent upper and lower eyelids; their horns must be curved, wide, and strong; The front hooves must be short, and in addition to the swirls, a buffalo must have four swirls in common: two on the shoulders and two on the hips. One swirl on the face indicates a mischievous buffalo, while two swirls on the face indicate a tame buffalo…
The cost of raising these buffaloes for fights in Nghi Thai is not high, but the care is meticulous and well-planned. Mr. Vuong Dinh Bac, owner of buffalo number 12, said: "The buffaloes must be carefully vaccinated, and their diet must be carefully considered. There are periods when we feed them things that make their blood boil, their bodies burning with heat, and their eyes bloodshot; and there are periods when we give them things that cool them down to increase their stamina during the fight."
During the two days of the festival, despite heavy rain, a large crowd of people still flocked to the area surrounding the buffalo fighting arena, eager to witness this martial arts spectacle. The arena was the village stadium. Although the organizers had erected sturdy fences made of bamboo, this couldn't stop the increasingly crowded and curious throngs during each exciting match, sometimes even causing a corner to collapse due to the pushing and shoving. Many spectators climbed trees to watch, and many rooftops and multi-story buildings became makeshift grandstands. When the buffalo entered the arena, the entire audience erupted in cheers, applause, and excited commentary. The fiery butts, horn clashes, and chases between the fighting buffaloes, amidst the fervent cheers of the crowd, gave the buffalo fighting festival a unique character…
Whether they win or lose, these "fighting buffaloes" are all brave warriors. According to village custom, their meat is slaughtered and sold for good luck and prosperity, as the villagers believe that eating a piece of buffalo meat brings good fortune: 150,000 to 500,000 VND per kilogram, depending on whether the buffalo lost in the qualifying rounds or advanced further... It is known that this festival is organized with maximum social mobilization, attracting sponsorship from 24 businesses and raising over 150 million VND to organize the event. There are no social vices or gambling activities during the festival. People come to watch for free, experiencing the festive atmosphere rich in traditional culture and showcasing the martial spirit of the people of Nghe An.
Thanh Chung
