Chonburi’s buffalos will race again when the province celebrates the end of Buddhist Lent Oct. 26 at Chonburi City Hall.
Deputy Gov. Chawalit Saeng-Uthai chaired a Sept. 1 planning meeting for the annual race festival, the 144th in Chonburi’s history.
The buffalo race is one of the most celebrated cultural events in the province and was initiated as a way to express gratitude to buffalos that were once the backbone of agriculture in the kingdom.
Deputy Gov. Chawalit Saeng-Uthai chairs a meeting to announce the famous Chonburi buffalo races will return October 26.
The races became very popular after King Rama VI made a royal appearance in Chonburi at the 1915 festival when then-governor Phraya Visetruechai hosted a special buffalo race to honor him.
The race festival is sponsored by Chonburi and the Tourism Authority of Thailand and will include sales of locally made goods, stage shows, games, parades and contests, including judging for race queens, beautiful buffalos and Buddhist amulets.
The stage shows will also feature special performances from popular musical artists. (CPRD)
