Bac Giang province's traditional all-male mud wrestling competition
Nguyen Anh Tuan -
(VOVworld) - A ball wrestling game, which was revitalized in 2002 after many decades of disappearance, is organized every forth lunar month since then for unmarried men at Van Pagoda in Bac Giang Province. VOV's Nguyen Anh Tuan captured the best moments of this year's event.
Selected unmarried men shove each other for a wood ball at an annual festival to honor local gods who defeated lagoon monsters in the 6th century, and to pray for bumper crops.
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Wrestlers bow to an altar before the game starts.
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A total of 16 wrestlers are selected for each time. They must be unmarried, healthy, and have a clean legal record.
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The game will last for 3 hours, starting at 3 pm on the day of competition.
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The 20 kilogram-ironwood ball representing the sun will be thrown and carried from east to west during the game.
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Senior villagers organize the game on the ground in front of the gods’ temple during the rainy season in the abundant mud puddles.
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Nguyen Anh Tuan