Water Buffalo Beauty Pageant

Every October in Chonburi, Thailand, locals gather for a unique and joyful celebration—the annual water buffalo racing festival and beauty pageant. The event marks the start of the harvest season and honors the buffaloes that once played an essential role in Thai agriculture, helping farmers plow rice fields before machines took over. Now, instead of working the land, these animals are celebrated for their strength, beauty, and spirit. The festival includes colorful parades, buffalo races along a 100-meter track, and even a pageant where the animals are judged on their horns, hooves, and overall condition. This year’s standout competitor was a five-year-old buffalo named Tod, who made his debut and charmed onlookers with the bright red glow inside his ears. Beyond the spectacle, the event helps keep Thailand’s buffalo-breeding traditions alive, encouraging farmers to care for and preserve these animals as a proud part of the country’s cultural heritage.

Image via AP

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