Annual bull fight which is one of Eastern Shan State’s traditional festivals has come round and is being celebrated in Mongyang, 102 km northeast of its capital Kengtung, local sources from the Sino-Burma border said...
Annual bull fight which is one of Eastern Shan State’s traditional festivals has come round and is being celebrated in Mongyang, 102 km northeast of its capital Kengtung, local sources from the Sino-Burma border said.
The festival site is in Wan Kha village, which is under control of National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA)’s 369th Brigade. It started on 21 January and the matches are scheduled to show again on 24 and 29 January, a local villager said.
“There are altogether 27 pairs of buffaloes that have been selected to compete this year. The first winner will receive 1,600 Yuan and the second 1,400 Yuan,” he said.
So far buffaloes that break the first record are ones from Pahsang village and the second record from Wan Kheng.
“The one that loses the matches will be paid 100 Yuan and taken out from the competition while its rival will receive 50 Yuan for each winning time and continue the fights,” the source added.
In general, people only spend old British coins in the match. Buffaloes which win the matches will be awarded 10 to 80 coins (one coin = 40 Yuan).
Gambling dens like Dominoes, Markingloi and Mahjong have also been allowed in the festival. Shop owners and gambling syndicates are required to pay some taxes which are collected to reward the winner of the festival.
This fight between water buffaloes is a unique festival, always held in winter season during November and January. Local people believe that the year without this festival is a year of food scarcity, said an elder of Monglwe, near Mongyang.
Buffaloes selected to fight in the matches must not be ridden by anyone, he said.
The festival has been celebrated since the Shan States were still ruled by princes. Significantly, it is only held in Monglwe, Mongyang and Yangkawng of Mongyang towship. It used to be enjoyed in Kengtung until its prince was detained by the coup leaders in 1962.
The festival started in Monglwe, then moved to Mongyang and Yangkawng respectively, said a resident of Mongyang.
“Monglwe has a cave where the buffalo with gem horns is believed to dwell, according to legends,” he quoted an elder as saying.
Spectators are from several places like Mongpawk, Hotao, Monghpen and Mongla, main base of the National Democratic Alliance Army-Eastern Shan State (NDAA-ESS).
