traditional buffalo race race
When we hear the phrase: "Bull-Racing", perhaps our thoughts drifted to the island of Madura, famous for its "Karapan Cow". Turns out there "Buffalo Racing" or "Buffalo Racing" is no less popular among the people of Bali, especially Western dibagian, known as the "Makepung".
Can be understood why the people of Bali choose melombakan buffalo than cattle, because the cow is an animal mounts used by the god Shiva and is considered as a sacred animal by Hindus. In Bali, especially Western dibagian, around the town of State, Makepung is a traditional event conducted several times each year, this Makepung strangely not so popular for people dibagian other Balinese. I visited kedesa Kaliakah, about 5 Kilometers from the State, to record the incident / event.
This event is a pre-qualified for a major event, namely the Governor Cup win. Implementation, in general, is to divide groups from various villages, into 2 groups: Group North with the Red costumes and Southern Group Green costume. The day before the event, the arena was packed with Makepung the pelomba from various villages, with their buffaloes best. I have never seen so many buffalo somewhere as I have seen this area of Mekepung. These buffaloes maintained and treated like the best athlete. It is said that before the race, buffaloes are given special food menu, full of herbs that produce extra energy.
Apparently "doping" is not a forbidden thing diarena this:) They are capable of, bringing their buffaloes using trucks, while the less able, to walk a good distance from their villages and chariot drawn by using a motorcycle taxi motorcycle. At night, the atmosphere like a "Night Market", characterized by a variety of both food and attractions stage with music that sting and certainly do not miss alcoholic beverages. Before dawn, the owners of the buffalo that will diperlombakan, making arrangements with certain rituals and decorating their buffaloes with Asesories-Asesories the colors.
Apparently this Buffalo team also has the names of exotic, such as: Wiro Sableng, Juwita Night and others. For the Balinese, there is nothing out of the "ritual" and "offering", so does this Makepung diarena, can be seen the people placing offerings, offering various locations, such as the corners of death and especially in the "Start and Finish ". I always respect all the cultural events of various regions, ethnicities and nationalities, but at this Makepung event, as an animal lover, I was somewhat disturbed.
Although buffaloes were treated like an athlete in the daily maintenance, but the event is how the jockey race buffaloes were somewhat exaggerated to say even sadistic. Buffaloes were beaten with a stick wrapped with nails them hard, which caused the wounds in these buffaloes. Some of the Dutch tourist who saw Makepung, closed their eyes and left the arena, probably because not bear to see how the buffaloes were treated.
I urge the Makepung and event organizer or whatever race of animals, to enforce a strict rule about the treatment of the animals that are diperlombakan. As in every race, there are winners and some losers, but at this Makepung event, just "The Bad Loser" seems to get the most lively applause from the audience. Perhaps this buffaloes successfully overturned the sadistic-jockey who was ...!
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