FOR an agricultural state like Perlis, February and March is ‘break time’ from the hard work at a padi field as the harvest is already in.
Those months, too, mark the transition from the cool weather to dry and windy as the temperature rises above 35 degrees Celsius in the state. Thus, the padi field will drying out until the next rainy season and only then, the farmers will go back to planting padi.
To fulfil the farmers’ leisure time, the state government with several agencies, such the National Department for Culture and Arts and Department of Agriculture, organise a harvest festival known as East Wind Festival (Pesta Angin Timur).
One of the games and shows include the iron buffalo race (perlumbaan kerbau besi).
Previously, farmers used buffalo to plough the padi but machines have replaced the animal in the last 30 years. However, during the East Wind Festival, young farmers race the ‘iron buffalo’ at a dry padi field in Kangar, Perlis. – March 3, 2019.
A participant making a turn while controlling his machine in the iron buffalo race during the East Wind Festival in Kangar, Perlis. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 3, 2019.A participant of the iron buffalo race with his machine during the East Wind Festival in Kangar. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 3, 2019.A participant guiding a machine during the iron buffalo race at the East Wind Festival in Kangar, Perlis. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 3, 2019.A participant guiding a machine during the iron buffalo race at the East Wind Festival in Kangar, Perlis. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 3, 2019.A team preparing their machine at the start of the race during the East Wind Festival in Kangar, Perlis. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 3, 2019.Spectators enjoying the iron buffalo race during East Wind Festival in Kangar, Perlis. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 3, 2019.Contestants competing in the iron buffalo race during East Wind Festival in Kangar, Perlis. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 3, 2019.Participants waiting for their turn to race during the East Wind Festival in Kangar, Perlis. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 3, 2019.A mechanic doing some last-minute work on a machine before the race during the East Wind Festival in Kangar, Perlis. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 3, 2019.A participant in the iron buffalo race controlling his machine as he tries to reach the finishing line during the East Wind Festival in Kangar, Perlis. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 3, 2019.A race marshall trying to avoid a machine in the iron buffalo race during the East Wind Festival in Kangar, Perlis. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 3, 2019.A marshall flagging off the iron buffalo race during the East Wind Festival in Kangar, Perlis. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 3, 2019.Crews resting while waiting for the race to restart during the East Wind Festival in Kangar, Perlis. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, March 3, 2019.
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