Exciting Bay Nui Bull Racing Festival for the 29th An Giang Television Cup in 2024

(AG Provincial E-Portal) - On September 29th, at the Vinh Trung commune bull racing ground, near Tho Mit pagoda (Tinh Bien town), the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, An Giang Radio and Television Station in coordination with Tinh Bien town People's Committee organized the 29th Bay Nui Bull Racing Festival for the An Giang Television Cup in 2024, on the occasion of the Sene Dolta Festival of the Khmer ethnic minority.

Delegates attending the Bay Nui Bull Racing Festival

Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the An Giang Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Mung; Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the An Giang Provincial People's Committee Le Van Phuoc; Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Committee Ngo Hong Yen; Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Internal Affairs Committee Nguyen Tiec Hung; Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Committee Vo Nguyen Nam; Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Khanh Hiep; Director of An Giang Radio and Television Station Nguyen Xuan Bang, along with leaders of Tinh Bien town, Tri Ton district, departments, branches, and a large number of people and tourists from inside and outside the province came to watch and cheer for the racing teams.

Provincial leaders presented souvenir flags to the owners of the participating pairs of bulls
Participating pairs of bulls
The pairs of bulls paraded around the field before competing

The 29th Bay Nui Bull Racing Festival for the An Giang Television Cup in 2024 attracted 64 pairs of bulls from the following localities: Tinh Bien town, Tri Ton district, Chau Thanh, Chau Phu, Thoai Son and Giang Thanh district (Kien Giang province), competing in a one-time elimination format according to the lottery code, the winning pair advances to the next round.

Each race has two rounds: the former is called “Hô” (calling) round, the latter is called “releasing” round (main race), to determine the winning pair of bulls. On the racetrack, if a pair of bulls violates the rules, such as: leaving the track without permission, stepping on the harrow of the pair of bulls in front, etc., they will be disqualified; the remaining pair of bulls will win and continue to compete in the next round.

Two pairs of bulls were ready to start
Two pairs of bulls were in the  “Hô” (calling) round

The pairs of bulls were competing enthusiastically
A large number of people and tourists came to watch and cheered on the competing pairs of bulls

After nearly a day of exciting competition, the pair of bulls with number 52 (An Phu ward, Tinh Bien town) of Mr. Le Van Moi excellently won first prize; the pair of bulls with number 24 of Mr. Nguyen Van Can (An Phu ward, Tinh Bien town) won second prize; the pair of bulls with number 12 of Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Tien (An Phu ward, Tinh Bien town) won third prize; the pair of bulls with number 40 of Mr. Nguyen Van Liet (An Phu ward, Tinh Bien town). In addition, Mr. Le Van Moi also won the prize for the best bull driver of the tournament.

Tinh Bien town leaders awarded the rotating flag to Tri Ton district
Mr. Nguyen Van Liet's pair of bulls won fourth prize
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Tien's pair of bulls won third prize
Mr. Nguyen Van Can's pair of bulls won second prize
Mr. Le Van Moi's pair of bulls won first prize

The Bay Nui bull race is a traditional festival of the Khmer ethnic minority, contributing to promoting cultural identity and building great national unity; enhancing the level of cultural and spiritual enjoyment, creating an exciting atmosphere among the Khmer ethnic minority on the occasion of the Sene Dolta Festival. At the same time, promoting the image of the homeland of Bay Nui to a large number of people in the country and the world…

News by TH - TC

Translated by Kim Ngan