Ox-racing festival in An Giang

THE DOLTA CEREMONY
THE OX-RACING FESTIVAL
Annually, late August of lunar calendar or middle October of solar calendar is the time when the crops are harvested, and a new rice crop begins. It’s also the time for Khmer people in Tri Ton and Tinh Bien (An Giang province) to celebrate the traditional Dolta ceremony.
Dolta is the traditional ceremony of Khmer people to pay their respect to their ancestors. They gather into pagodas with a lot of food to commemorate their ancestors and pray the gods for the good crops. Besides, they organize some exciting activities on these days. And the most attractive event is the ox-racing festival.
Previously, the ox-racing festival was for pleasure among local Khmer people after crops. But it has been invested in more and more, and has become the An Giang traditional festival. Moreover, it has attracted a lot of people (both the Khmer people and the Kinh people) because of its extent and form. The more extended it is, the more attractive it gets.
The ox-racing festival is organized on a flat rice field about 200 meters long and 100 meters wide. The rice field used for the ox racing festival must be muddy with the racing path of 120 meters long and 6 meters wide. The race includes 2 rounds. The first round is “Vòng Hô”, which is called “performing round”, and the controllers (cowboys) manage the oxen pairs to circle the field twice without getting out of the lines or stepping on the front pair’s harrow.
The second round is “Vòng Thả”, the main round, which is signaled by the referee. The controllers holding a stick (Xa-lul) with sharp point will hit the oxen to make them run as fast as they can. In addition, they must know how to make the two oxen run at the same speed because the farmers use the best oxen for the race. The winner is the pair which gets the the “Finish” first without violating the rules.
On the main day of the race, a lot of people living in the area will come to attend the race. They also bring food in order to be able to stay experience from the beginning to the end of the race. These recent years, the number of the racing oxen has got to 70 pairs (19th festival, 2010 – 78 pairs: districts around An Giang; Hon Dat, Kien Luong from Kien Giang; some from Combodia).
According to Khmer people’s conception, the ox-racing festival has a very special meaning. It brings not only the happiness and the pride to the winning pair owner, but also the wealth and prosperity to the winning village. So, if you have a chance, you should have a trip to An Giang to enjoy unforgettable festivals, especially the ox-racing festival. Welcome all visitors to our fertile and comfortable land, seven-mountain area in An Giang.
QUESTIONS
What can Khmer people get from the festival?
Should we widen its extent nationwide? Why or why not?
Should we introduce the festival to foreign friends? Why or why not?
Thanks for your attention.



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