Fill in the blank with a suitable word

Fill in the blank with a suitable word.

Buffalo fighting (1) ……………… a unique and traditional festival of people in Do Son District, Haiphong City. This festival is associated with Water Goddess worshiping and sacrificing custom. It also expresses bravery and risk-taking spirit of people in the coastal city of Haiphong. The festival has been long conducted within the region (2) …………… the 18th century. It is annually and officially operated (3) ……………… the 9th day of the 8th month in Vietnamese Lunar Calendar; however, its preparation (4) ……………… participants nearly a year to process. From choosing the right buffaloes to buy, raising and training them all of which require hard work and ongoing effort. For example, fighting buffaloes (5) …………… selected based on a wide (6) ……………… of requirements: at least 4 or 5 years old, wide chest, bow-shape horns, toned thighs, and long tail. Also, these buffaloes (7) ……………… kept separately from normal ones, and so on. Like other festivals in Vietnam, Buffalo Fighting Festival consists (8) …………… two parts: spiritual rites and entertaining activities. After many tensions and dramatic games, at the end of the day, the winning buffalo will be killed in a ceremony worshipping Water Goddess.