Friday, 02 July 2010
Makepung
 Balinese Grand Prix, Bali Indonesia.
Makepung that in the Indonesian language means romp, is the tradition of buffalo
race which has long been attached to the people of Bali, especially in Jembrana
regency. This tradition was a game originally made the farmers on the sidelines
of plowing activities at harvest. At that time, they quickly clashing with buffalo
race is attached to a cart and driven by a jockey.
Increasingly, activities that initially it was fun growing and increasingly popular
among many. Now, Makepung has become one of the cultural attractions of the most
interesting and many watched by tourists including foreign tourists. Not only
that, the program buffalo race has become an annual event tourism in Bali and
professionally managed.
 Right now, Makepung not only followed by the farmers alone. The employees and
employers of the city there are many who become participants and supporters. Moreover,
in a big fight, Governor Cup for example, participants who attended Makepung could
reach about 300 pairs of oxen, or even more. The atmosphere was very lively with
the presence of the musicians Jegog (Balinese gamelan, made of bamboo) to liven
up the race atmosphere.
When he began competition in the 1970s, the rules and the completeness of the
Makepung go through some changes. For example, the buffalo that had only one,
now a pair. Then, cikar or wagon for a jockey who had been large, now replaced
with smaller ones. Participants Makepung buffalo, now also more ‘fashionable’
with a variety of ornament of the crown that is placed at the head of a buffalo
and a green or red flags in each cikar. Meanwhile, the arena Makepung shaped ground
track of ‘U’, as long as 1 to 2 km.
Unlike the Madura bull racing or event which is another race, Makepung have a
few unique rules. Winners of this competition is not just determined by who or
where the buffalo pair reached the finish line first, but also determined the
distances between the participants who were playing. This means that a participant
would be considered a winner if he had been at the forefront when it reaches the
finish and be able to keep my distance from behind the participant, as far as
10 m.
 However, if a couple of buffalo that are behind can narrow the distance to the
participants in front of him, to less than 10 m, the pair behind the buffalo that
will come out a winner. The race finished in a matter of eight to ten minutes
in each of his race.
Makepung fans and participants, in Jembrana is divided into two groups known
as the West Block and East Block. The division is based on the block Ijo Gading
River which divides the capital of Jembrana regency. Both blocks will meet in
the official competition once every two weeks.
And, each block has a circuit itself is often used as a practice or competition
sites that are official.
 This unique that makes Makepung be an exciting spectacle, and interesting, is
the expression of a jockey who was on cikar and was encouraged by both the buffalo
shouted their respective regions. The jockey whipped buffalo with a stick during
a race on the track width of 2 m is to be able to reach maximum speed. Some jockeys
also use special sticks where there are small spikes attached to the stick. So,
not surprisingly, used buffalo bleeding after following this race.
Which added he cried Makepung, in every race is almost always a jockey who failed
to control the buffalo. This often happens when there are participants who would
overtake the other participants. And, when the buffalo out of control, he will
be off the track and finally fell into the fields or inverted map. The audience
was cheering …
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