Kneeling Carabao Festival (Pulilan, Bulacan, May 14)
Even with advanced technologies in farming, we cannot deny that Filipino farmers still get help from hardworking carabaos. These friendly animals have been a companion to Filipino farmers in providing food for us to consume. That is why there is no doubt that there are several festivals for carabaos.
In Pulilan, Bulacan, they celebrate the Kneeling Carabao Festival to honor the friendship and contributions of carabaos. It is also a thanksgiving event for the town’s patron saint, San Isidro Labrador, for a bountiful harvest.
During the festival, the farmers bring their carabaos to the nearby river to clean and pamper them. The farmers make sure that their coats and horns are nice and shiny. They are also decorated with flowers and ribbons for the carabao parade.
At the end of the parade, the carabaos and the farmers kneel in front of the parish church to give thanks and show gratitude to the patron saint. The carabaos have been trained by their owners since childhood. Farmers make hand gestures, like holding the carabao’s nape or a gentle pat, then carabao kneels.
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