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The traditional cultural festival of the ethnic groups of Buon Don district - the Dak Lak Elephant Festival - is held every two years in March. The people of Buon Don hold an elephant racing festival along with other unique rituals such as the Water Source Worship Ceremony, the Elephant Health Worship Ceremony, the Buffalo Sacrifice Ceremony (Buffalo Stabbing Ceremony), the New Rice Worship Ceremony (Harvest Celebration Ceremony), and gong culture...
Elephants participate in a football match during the festival. Photo: VNA.
The Buôn Đôn District Ethnic Culture Festival - Dak Lak Elephant Festival is a cultural activity deeply rooted in the traditional culture of the ethnic groups in Buôn Đôn district in particular and the Central Highlands provinces in general. These rituals are meant to pray for a bountiful new harvest, high yields, and prosperity for the villages.
The Elephant Festival, featuring 18 elephants, takes place over one day with activities such as elephant speed races, elephant swimming across rivers, and elephant football. The elephant race aims to honor the chivalrous spirit and the skill of the ethnic groups of the Central Highlands in taming wild elephants.
In addition, the festival also features cultural performances including gong music, folk songs, folk dances, traditional musical instrument performances, and traditional costume displays; the opportunity to enjoy unique and flavorful cuisine of the ethnic minorities; elephant rides to explore villages; and visits to Yok Don National Forest.
The Buôn Đôn Ethnic Culture Festival - Dak Lak Elephant Festival not only contributes to preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values of the ethnic groups in Dak Lak province but also provides an opportunity for the locality to promote its tourism potential to domestic and international tourists. The festival will conclude on the morning of March 14th.
