The annual ox race at An Giang Province’s That Son Mountain area, which has proved to be attractive to local and foreign visitors, will take place at Tho Mit Pagoda, Vinh Trung District on December 1.
Thrilling ox race to come back in early Dec
By Huy Nguyen in HCMC
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| A view of an ox race in An Giang Province’s That Son Mountain area in the past - Photo: Huy Nguyen |
The annual ox race at An Giang Province’s That Son Mountain area, which has proved to be attractive to local and foreign visitors, will take place at Tho Mit Pagoda, Vinh Trung District on December 1.
The traditional festival of Khmer people to celebrate the planting of the autumn-winter crop has become a sporting event. The tournament will feature many best pairs of oxen selected from the province. Most of the oxen have a strong posture with a big head, straight back, solid bone, long tail, small ear, round neck and gentle eyes.
The competition will come with two rounds: ‘ho’ (shouting) and ‘tha’ (releasing). The ho round can be considered the qualifying round and the tha round the final. Both rounds display the strength of the oxen and the skills of their riders.
In the ho round, each pair of oxen has to go around the fighting ground two times for warming up and if any pair steps on the harrow of another, it will lose. However, in the 120 meter-long tha round, those stepping on the harrow of others will win. This round is the heart of the contest and the most boisterous time which thrills and excites viewers.
Along with the race, local authorities in An Giang Province will also hold many cultural and tourism festivities and workshops to promote Khmer people’s culture to visitors.