Traditional Thai buffalo race kicks off rice growing season
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Tradition
Thai farmers raced their water buffaloes at a muddy annual race on Sunday to mark the beginning of the new rice growing season at the start of the monsoon weather, in a tradition dating back to the 1800s which celebrates the beasts of burden.
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200-meter-long dirt track
Scores of spectators watched the racing on a 200 meter-long dirt track in the seaside province of Chonburi, some 80 km (50 miles) southeast of the capital, Bangkok.
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Return after pandemic
The race, which sometimes takes place at the end of the monsoon, was paused during the coronavirus pandemic but returned last year.
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Water buffalo for farming
Most Thai farmers no longer use water buffalo for farming but many are still keen to keep the animals.
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'Want to preserve the tradition'
"Today, it doesn't matter for me if I win or lose. I wanted to preserve this tradition," said Somchai Kamchab, 58, who owns a buffalo competing in the race.