Koh Samui Buffalo Fighting Festival

Posted by admin on December 5th, 2009 filed in Culture & customs, Expat life, Island life, Living here, Nightlife, People, Samui, The South, Top attractions

The Buffalo Fighting Festival is undoubtedly amongst the most famous of Ko Samui’s festivals. It’s held on special occasions including during Songkran and New Years Day.

Unlike Spanish bullfighting, the Ko Samui variety is fairly harmless with buffalos beautifully decorated with gold-painted leaves and ribbons.

The contest features bouts of head-wrestling where two male water buffaloes face off at selected stadiums at Ban Makham, Ban Saket and outside Nathon town around the island.

It lasts only two rounds with the competitors being sprayed with water by local monks. But competition is fierce with the owner of the winning animal typically taking millions of baht home in prize money.

The buffaloes lock horns with the boisterous crowd cheering them along. Eventually the weaker one will submit, with the first buffalo to turn and run away is deemed the loser.

The next Buffalo Fighting Festival should be held on the island on January 1 so look around town for details on posters.