#Buffalofestival

In Chonburi, a five-year-old buffalo named Tod trotted into the limelight at the annual water buffalo racing festival, its glossy black coat and a splash of red in its ears catching the eyes of onlookers. Tod is owned by a local food vendor and farmer, Thawatchai Daeng-Ngam, who says the event is more than a parade of animal beauty—it’s a celebration of a long, intimate bond between Thai families and their resilient livestock. The pageant is part of a festival that marks the harvest season’s onset, where buffaloes once plowed fields and now star in ceremonial parades, flower crowns, and a 100-meter sprint that tests strength and stamina as spectators cheer from shaded stands.