Bisaya Buffalo Race Festival in Limbang Sarawak

May 23, 2013 | Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

The buffalo race festival, also known locally as ‘Pesta Babulang’, is significant to the Bisaya community in Limbang. The Bisaya is one of the twenty-seven ethnic groups of Sarawak.

This year’s Pesta Babulang 2013 will be held at Batu Danau, Limbang from June 7-9. As always, it will highlight the many facets of Bisaya unique culture, traditional foods and local handicrafts to visitors.

Bisaya Buffalo Race Festival in Limbang Sarawak

The highlight of the festival is the buffalo race involving teams from Limbang, Sabah and Brunei trying to outrace each other riding on bare buffalo back.

Bisaya Buffalo Race Festival in Limbang Sarawak Decorated float

‘Kuntul berhias’ (decorated float)

Bisaya Buffalo Race Festival in Limbang Sarawak Beauty contestants

Another highlight of the festival is ‘Ratu Babulang’ that draws many Bisaya lasses to vie for this annual beauty crown.

Bisaya Buffalo Race Festival in Limbang Sarawak Community Feast

Community Feast – one of the local delicacies of this northern region of Sarawak is ‘Pulut Wajik’ as can seen in their green banana wrapping on the platters.

Bisaya Buffalo Race Festival in Limbang Sarawak Pulut Wajik

‘Pulut Wajik’ – sweet and melts-in-your-mouth food. It is made from millet and flavoured with palm sugar

Bisaya Buffalo Race Festival in Limbang Sarawak Bisaya handicrafts

This three-day celebration includes various activities such as cultural performances, cooking contest, beauty pageant, handicrafts exhibition and lucky draws.

This annual festival is organised by the Bisaya Association and it also serves to promote the tourism industry of the Limbang Division.

How to get there?
MASWings currently operating daily flights from Miri to Limbang. To reach the venue, visitor can take a taxi from Limbang town which costs RM50 one-way and takes about 45 minutes to reach Batu Danau. Visitor who travel from Brunei will easily find the site as it is only 15 minutes drive from the border of Tedungan.