- Title: THAILAND: Villagers celebrate buffalo wedding in Thailand
- Date: 11th February 2013
- Summary: AYUTTHAYA PROVINCE, THAILAND (FEBRUARY 11, 2013) (REUTERS) HANDLER WASHING BUFFALO GROOM - YAI CHAI-YUEN YAI BEING WASHED HANDLER PUTTING CLOTH ON YAI'S BACK YAI BEING DRESSED HANDLER COMBING YAI'S HAIR VARIOUS OF YAI IN WEDDING PROCESSION VARIOUS OF MUSICIANS AND DANCERS IN PROCESSION YAI ENTERING WEDDING GATE MEN BRINGING BUFFALO BRIDE - THONG- KWAO - TO THE WEDDING CERE
- Embargoed: 26th February 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Thailand
- Country: Thailand
- Topics: Environment,Politics,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVA8KHP5E44M2IGR0VZOE1WB8WXY
- Story Text: A buffalo wedding in Ayutthaya, Thailand promotes conservation of the country's best breeds of buffalo.
Villagers came out to celebrate the union of two buffalos on Monday (February 11) at Ban Pho in Thailand's ancient capital of Ayutthaya, 73 kilometres (45 miles) north of Bangkok.
The Buffalo groom - Yai Chai-Yuen - is from the northeastern province Udon Ratchathani and is now living in a major breeder's buffalo farm in Ayutthaya.
His horns measure 302 centimetres long and his body is distinctly built as an original Thai buffalo.
Hundreds celebrated Yai's union to Thong-kwao, a local buffalo bride who has already given birth to two offspring.
The arranged marriage was one of the highlights of the sleepy village that centers on farming rice.
"They (the bride and groom) are both original Thai buffalo. Yai Chai-Yuen is 21 years old. He is a fully grown, genuine Thai buffalo and his sperm still very strong. So we need to have his descendants," said Suvit Pitakpornpanlop, a member of the Ayutthaya House of Representatives who brought Yai to the breeding farm.
Senior Thai officials, community leaders and local politicians all attended the wedding, which was strictly a Thai traditional wedding.
The groom's dowry included sets of areca nut betel leafs, banana and canes with golden and silver chains.
"If we don't support (this wedding) Thai buffalo will be extinct from Thailand. And also today is an auspicious day to welcome St. Valentine day, so we can be trendy. We also publicise our Thai buffalo days to be held across Valentine's day," Suvit said.
The breeder has given Yai three months to get his bride pregnant so they can continue the line of the best pedigree Thai buffalos.
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