VietNamNet Bridge – The final round of the Hai Luu traditional buffalo fighting festival took place in Lap Thach district of Vinh Phuc Province on Wednesday morning (Feb. 24), attracting thousands of local people and tourists.

In the old days, Hai Luu Commune in Lap Thach District of Vinh Phuc Province was named Bach Luu and was situated on the left bank of the Lo River below steep mountains. Legend has it that one morning, two white buffaloes fought each other at the Lo Wharf and then both plummeted into the river, hence the village name of Bach Nguu (white buffalo). Later it was renamed Bach Luu to avoid a taboo by naming the village after its saint.

According to some ancient records, the buffalo fighting in Hai Luu Commune has existed from the 2nd century B.C. At that time, to give a feast to the local people and the warriors, general Lu Gia had the buffaloes slaughtered, and organized buffalo fighting for amusement. When he died, the local people worshiped him as the village’s saint at Bach Luu Ha communal house and the buffalo fighting became a festival to commemorate him. The buffalo fighting festival was held on lunar January 17 until 1947.

In 2002, Le Quy Hung, Secretary of Lap Thach District’s Party Committee, asked the commune’s residents to restore the Hai Luu buffalo fighting festival to preserve the historical activities of their homeland.

Before the festival, Hai Luu Commune entrusts a group of villagers to make a ritual at Hung King’s Temple. On the eve of the festival, a service for the village saint is held. It seems the whole commune stays awake over night to drink wine, sing songs, talk about doing businesses in the New Year and prepare for the festival.

The typical characteristic of the Hai Luu buffalo fighting festival lies in the fact that every year, in lunar July and August, the villages contribute money and send some villagers to Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang and Lai Chau Provinces to buy strong and good-looking buffaloes for raising and training. When fighting, the buffaloes attack face to face, using their horns and strength to defeat their rivals. They never attack from the sides or behind.

Hai Luu buffalo fighting festival is among the most ancient folk festivals which still retains the native character.

The festival took place over two days on February 7th and 8th (the sixteenth and seventeenth days of the first lunar month).

In related news, buffalo stabbing rituals will be removed from the traditional festival of ethnic minority groups in Dak Lak Province, central highlands of Vietnam, which is scheduled on March 12-14 in Don Village. The festival is held every two years, in even-numbered years.

Photos taken at this year's festival:

 

After the qualifying matches on Feb. 23, 16 strongest buffaloes were selected for the final round.       Thousands in the audience enthusiastically watched the fight in rain.       In the end, the first prize worth VND50 million belonged to the buffalo No. 29 of Mr. Do Duy Cao.       After the game, some buffaloes were slaughtered. Hundreds of people bought buffalo meat to get luck.       The price for 1kg of fighting buffaloes is from VND500,000 ($25) to VND2 million ($100). The meat of the winning buffalo is priced up to VND3 million ($150) per kilo.

 

Zing/VNtourism