Buffalo painting contest held ahead of Doi Son Ploughing Festival

The event drew the participation of 30 painters from Hanoi, Hung Yen, Ninh Binh and Thai Binh, and one Russian who painted buffaloes chosen for the traditional festival with the aim to pray for a bumper harvest in the New Year.

The buffalo painting contest has been held within the framework of the Tich Dien Festival for 12 years by the Ha Nam Literature and Arts Association and always attracts the participation of many painters from inside and outside the province.

According to the evaluation of the organising board, most of the works are imbued with the traditions of the spring season, with the image of the zodiac sign and bearing the identity of agriculture, creating buffaloes with distinctive and unique paintings.

The winning buffaloes of the contest will join the Tich Dien Festival, a highlight of Ha Nam tourism, which also aims to encourage farmers to develop agricultural production and promote the building of new-style rural areas.

Tich Dien Festival features the importance of agriculture and the role of farmers, and contributes to preserving and upholding the cultural values of the locality.

The festival began in the year 987, during the Le dynasty, when King Le Dai Hanh decided to plough in Doi Son Commune, Duy Tien District, to wish for a bumper crop. The practice then became an annual tradition held through many dynasties.

After a long time of interruption, the festival was restored in 2009 and has been held annually since then.

Russian painter at the contest

Most of the works are imbued with the traditions of the spring season