On your marks, get set, go!

At last month's Karen Baptist Assembly, I came across probably the most bizarre competition I have ever seen.  Now, the Karen are proud of their heritage - and traditional Karen dress was much in evidence at the Assembly.  As part of the Assembly programme, some competitions had been arranged to promote traditional Karen practices and customs.

And so I came to be sat on the front row of the Assembly hall, watching pairs of Karen ladies nervously taking their places, holding large woven bamboo trays.  Each pair was given a sack of rice.  My friend explained: 'This is a rice winnowing contest!'

In a set time limit of 5 minutes, the women (and a few girls) had to winnow as much rice as they could - separating out the husks and the grains of rice.   The tension was palpable as the competitors prepared for the order to begin - trays at the ready, they waited for the signal.  The pairs represented different Associations of the KBC, and their supporters began shouting loud encouragement.

And then, with a loud whistle blast, they were off!  The air instantly filled with dust as the rice husks and grains began flying off the trays.  The amount of skill involved is incredible - the leading pairs were going at a cracking pace, but not spilling a single grain of rice!   The team wearing black and dark red clothes were particularly good!

This is one of the traditional Karen customs which is in danger of being lost - replaced by mechanised alternatives, which are certainly less hard work!  As the time limit approached, the women began sifting through their winnowed rice, picking out any last bits of husk before their efforts were sent to be judged - on quality as well as quantity! 

I think the Mae Sariang Association won the contest, although everything degenerated into chaos at the end, so I'm not sure the judges were entirely sure whose rice was whose!  I was struck again by the sheer effort involved in getting rice from the field to the table - and that this burden often falls particularly heavily on the women.  Perhaps next year the men should have a go!