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Cambodian Villagers Hold Rare Oxcart Race, Seeking to Revive a Centuries-Old Tradition 

Cambodian villagers race their oxcarts at Romdoul village, Kampong Speu province, southwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Sunday, April 7, 2024. (AP)
Cambodian villagers race their oxcarts at Romdoul village, Kampong Speu province, southwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Sunday, April 7, 2024. (AP)
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Cambodian Villagers Hold Rare Oxcart Race, Seeking to Revive a Centuries-Old Tradition 

Cambodian villagers race their oxcarts at Romdoul village, Kampong Speu province, southwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Sunday, April 7, 2024. (AP)
Cambodian villagers race their oxcarts at Romdoul village, Kampong Speu province, southwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Sunday, April 7, 2024. (AP)

Hundreds of Cambodian villagers held a rare oxcart race on Sunday, trying to revive a centuries-old tradition as they celebrated the arrival of the lunar new year.

Under a hot sun and amid clouds of dust, they gathered in Romduol village in Kampong Speu province, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of the capital, Phnom Penh. The race marked Khmer Lunar New Year, celebrated from April 13 to 16, and the end of the rice harvest.

Participants rode an oxcart pulled by two oxen along a roughly 1-kilometer (0.62-mile) -long dirt track, as spectators lining the route cheered enthusiastically.

Fifty pairs of oxcarts competed in the race from four provinces: Kampong Speu, Kandal, Phnom Penh and Kampong Cham.

The oxcart has played a significant role in Cambodia for centuries, especially for farmers and for the transportation of agricultural goods and people in rural areas.

However, the oxcart today is on the brink of disappearance with tractors and motorized rickshaws increasingly replacing the older technology.

Sunday’s race was a first for Khem Rithy, 40, a teacher from Kampong Speu provincial high school who traveled with 150 students to watch the race.

“We have a lot of wonderful culture in Cambodia. I want Cambodians to know this culture,” Rithy said.

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Arab Countries, UNESCO Director General Hail Saudi Arab Week at UNESCO Initiative

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA
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Arab Countries, UNESCO Director General Hail Saudi Arab Week at UNESCO Initiative

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA

The Arab Group at the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization has praised the success of the Saudi National Committee for Education, Culture, and Science in organizing the first Arab Week at UNESCO initiative, which the UNESCO Arab Group held in Paris on November 4-5.
In a closing statement of the Arab Week at UNESCO, the Arab Group expressed appreciation to Saudi Arabia for launching the initiative, commending the efforts led by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to advance efforts in education, culture, and science.
The group also thanked Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Minister of Culture and Chair of the Saudi National Committee for Education, Culture, and Science, for the committee’s unwavering support, funding, and effective implementation of the initiative, marking the first UNESCO Arab gathering under the leadership of Saudi Arabia, SPA reported.
The group also extended its appreciation to the participating Arab countries for their active contributions and high-level efforts to coordinate and ensure the success of the initiative. The event is expected to serve as an ideal gateway for long-term cultural prosperity between Arab countries and the world, fostering stronger cultural bridges.

For her part, Director General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay has praised Saudi Arabia's Arab Week at UNESCO initiative, emphasizing the significance of recognizing the historical depth and cultural diversity of the Arab world.
During her speech at the closing ceremony of the event, Azoulay noted that UNESCO highlights the significance of the Arabic language, which is the fifth most spoken language in the world.
She underscored the need to showcase the depth and diversity of Arab cultures, stressing the need to bridge the gap between perceptions of these cultures and their rich, complex realities, which are shaped by a long history and a vibrant tapestry of differences and creativity.
Azoulay said the Arab Week at UNESCO conveys a powerful message to the organization’s 172 member states, encouraging them to collectively celebrate their shared values.