YAN: Towering over the crowd with its lifelike size and realistic sounds, Awang Kundur – a buffalo sculpture crafted entirely from straw – was the star attraction at the Kedah Straw Carnival 2025 in Kampung Teroi, Guar Chempedak, near here.
The masterpiece, created by the Pengkalan Kundur B4 Area Farmers’ Organisation (PPK), is not just a feast for the eyes but also a nostalgic tribute to traditional farming, when buffaloes were once crucial in ploughing padi fields before modern machinery took over.
“Buffaloes were a farmer’s best friend in the past as they used to till the fields before tractors and other equipment came by. These days you won’t find buffaloes doing such work in Kedah anymore,” said PPK B4 manager Amrin Hamdan.
“It took two weeks to complete, and we did not stop there, we also built a traditional rice barn and a padi threshing area, both essential elements of padi farming in the past,” he told Bernama.
Made from three massive rolls of straw, each weighing up to 300kg, the replicas were brought to life with a budget of less than RM2,000.
Crafting the straw replicas was no small feat, with 20 workers dedicating their time and skills at the PPK warehouse.
“We divided the team into three groups. Creating the buffalo required eight people as it had to look as close to the real thing as possible,” Amrin said.
And their efforts certainly paid off. Visitors have been flocking to the carnival, eager to snap photos with Awang Kundur, making it a highlight of the event.
“The response has been overwhelming. Beyond just admiring the artwork, people – especially the young – are learning about farming methods of the past. It’s a great way to reconnect with our agricultural heritage,” he added.
Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) chairman Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh said the three-day carnival, which began on Friday, was a much-anticipated annual celebration following the padi harvesting season in Mada areas.
“This year, 12 PPK participated, and those with straw baler machines transformed their harvest waste into stunning sculptures. I was truly impressed by their creativity,” he said.
The competition saw the top winner walk away with RM3,000, while the second and third placed participants took home RM2,000 and RM1,000, respectively. Others received consolation prizes.
Ismail said the carnival highlighted the potential of straw as an additional source of income for farmers, adding that in the past, they would just burn the leftover straw after harvesting
Salina Ramli, 48, who came to the carnival with her husband Mazdi Mohd Razali, 48, said the event was a must-see.
“It was being promoted on social media and we decided to come and check it out. Seeing these straw sculptures up close, especially with the stunning backdrop of padi fields and Gunung Jerai, is simply breathtaking.
“Kedah is known as the rice bowl of Malaysia, so events like this are a great way to showcase our culture and attract more tourists to the state,” she added.
