Releasing pigeons (Tha chim)
Every year, Hoan Son and Tam Giang villagers
organize bird-releasing festivals in the early summer and mid autumn during the
third and the eighth lunar months. Each family raises two or three flocks of
pigeons. Judges stipulate that each flock in the spring contest may have ten
pigeons but only eight in the autumn. The contests are open to anyone-not just
Bac Ninh residents. Bird lovers use these occasions to exchange experiences and
learn from each other.
The Judges consist of the trich ha, who
distributes numbers to participants and then call the numbers for the birds'
release, and the trich thuong, who observes the arrangement of birds
in the sky to determine the winner, a flock of birds flies beautifully when all
their heads huddle together. Seen from the ground, they look like an arrow
disappearing on the horizon.
"Before the contest every trainer practises
releasing his birds so that the pigeons are familiar with the flight direction.
All the birds return unless they lose their way in a heavy storm. Intelligent
pigeons can return to their owner seven days or even two years later".
The bird owner should pay attention to the pigeons'
eyes, nostrils and wings to have birds that fly both high and well. Good birds
usually have eyes with small, round pupils. Birds with translucent, dry eyes do
best at the hot summer festival, and those with wet eyes are best for the dry
autumn contest. Birds with small nostrils are better than those with big ones
because they can withstand windy conditions and fly higher. Large wings, short
tails and narrow shoulders also enable birds to be strong, skilful fliers.
Releasing pigeons is considered a refined form of
entertainment. As a traditional saying goes, "Men enjoy many kinds of
games, but nothing is as pleasurable as releasing birds".
