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 ASEAN
Barred-Ground Dove (Zebra) Cooing Contest
Date: The first Saturday and Sunday of March of every
year at the Khwan Mueang Park
Background : Nursing zebra doves
is very popular in the lower part of the southern region.
The zebra dove's coo is very pleasing to the ear and
the locals believe that as an auspicious animal, it
would bring fortune to its owner,especially if it possesses
the right features according to the books. Some believe
that the dove is the symbol of peace and purity.
Thai Moslems in the south are very
fond of zebra doves. Because a large number of locals
love to keep them as pets, zebra dove contests have
become prevalent during many festivals. In 1986, the
municipal of Muaeng Yala and the Zebra Dove Club initiated
the first regional cooing zebra dove contest. It received
much popularity, giving rise to zebra dove farms. The
most famous zebra dove farm is in Chana District, Songkhla.
Activities : On the day of the contest,
the owners of the doves register and hoist their doves
(which are in cages) to the tip of assigned poles. There
are two rounds, lasting ninety minutes per round. The
doves will be divided into three groups : Class A (with
big voices), Class B (with medium voices), Class C (with
small voices), and judged in their own group. Pre-established
parameters are used to judge the cooing quality. The
scores will be transformed into cooing quality levels
according to each group of doves.
Judges will score taking into consideration,
the duration and consistency of the dove's coo, and
the quality of the coos. Today, there is another category
of doves those that have big, medium, and small voices.
Besides the zebra dove contest, there may be a contest
of the most beautiful cages and a fair of pet dove equipment.
The City Pillar Ceremony is
held annually in May on the ground of the Yala Municipality
Office features a model of the actual City Pillar being
paraded around town. Stalls displaying goods for sale,
exhibition, Government products, folk entertainment,
such as Manora Dance, Nung Talung, and Hulu Li Ke, are
also on hand.
Yala Product and Cultural Revival
Festival is held annually on the first weekend of
August, on the grounds of the Yala Municipality Office.
Folk cultures from the various groups in the border
provinces of the south, mainly Chinese-Thai Buddhists
and Thai Muslim, are performed. There are also contests
for Chi La Dance, Best Dressed Banong, Si Bu-nga Siri
(a special kind of potpourri), Rong-ngeng Dance, Annacit
Singing contest in Malay and Thai languages, plus folk
performances from various schools in the area. Exhibition
of Yala’s best produce is not to be missed.
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Yala
is the southernmost province of Thailand, with an area
of 4,521 square kilometres. It is the only landlocked
province in the south. Today Yala is the border province
with many interesting facets: history, culture, and
beautiful scenery. The province has a unique mixture
of cultural heritage of several groups--Thai, Chinese,
and Islam. The city centre has systematic town planning
and is one of the educational centres of the south as
well.