Every early October, at the end of the Buddhist Lent, the small town of Chonburi, near Bangkok, hosts one of Thailand’s most remarkable festivals. Hundreds of farmers gather with their buffaloes to celebrate the rice harvest’s end.
In festive spirit, each village parades in traditional dress, paying thanks to Buddha and honoring these sturdy animals — prized not only for their strength and calm but also for their surprising speed in races.
Mounted bareback by daring young farmers, buffaloes compete amid heat, dust, smoky stalls, and traditional Thai games. Cockfights (without spurs), roasted grasshoppers, Muay Thai boxing, and rattan ball matches celebrate a rural world rich in tradition and color over a vibrant weekend.
