This festival is held in the spring,
around the 3rd month of the lunar calendar. It is usually held in Don
Village or in forests near the Sevepoi River (Dac Lak). The race track
is on even ground where there are only has a few big trees. The width
of the track is large enough for 10 elephants to stand in a line at the
same time and the length of the track runs 1-2 km.
With
the signal of the horn (a wind instrument), the mahouts command their
elephants to go to the starting line. When the command to start the
race is released, all of the elephants rush ahead, excited by the sound
of the drums, gongs, and cheering from the viewers. At the end of the
race, the winning elephants lift their trunks above their heads to wave
to the viewers. They walk deliberately flapping their ears gently,
gazing through half-closed eyes to receive sugarcane from their viewers.
The elephant race is the biggest festival in the middle highland. It bears the martial spirit of the M'nong ethnic group, who are very famous for their bravery and skill in hunting wild elephants.
The elephant race is the biggest festival in the middle highland. It bears the martial spirit of the M'nong ethnic group, who are very famous for their bravery and skill in hunting wild elephants.
Author: Vietnamtourism
