A day at the bullfights a continuing tradition in Aceh
A day at the bullfights a continuing tradition in Aceh
By Ampelsa
ACEH (Antara): Two widely separated provinces enjoy games in which bulls provide the entertainment. But the game found in Aceh is totally different from the one found on Madura Island.
The game in Madura, popularly known as karapan sapi, is none other than a bull race, while the entertainment in Aceh, locally called peupo leumo, is a bullfight.
The Acehnese tradition of bullfighting is still carried out in several villages in Aceh province. In villages in Aceh Besar regency and Banda Aceh mayoralty, the fights are organized almost every week in open fields.
Sabirin, a public figure from Darul Imara sub-district, Aceh Besar regency, said bullfighting is a traditional game for village kids, however it is now organized as local community entertainment.
"Traditional peupo leumo can be seen on a certain day of a week, while as an entertainment it is usually held after the harvest period is over," he said.
For Aceh villagers, peupo leumo is meant not only as entertainment, but also as a means to maintain friendship between villagers.
At a chosen field, owners herd their bulls to the site of the fight. Prior to the designated fight date, they have to increase their bull's weight and make sure their animals are in good condition. Owners are not supposed to use their bulls to cultivate land, but to maintain their animal's condition by feeding them good quality grass and bathing them regularly.
Bathing is usually an activity all of the special fighting bulls participate in together. Owners take the opportunity to examine their own animal's strength and endurance before the bulls are enrolled for the fight.
"Pitting one bull against another while bathing them in the river is a pre-fight elimination round before they jump into the real fight," Sabirin said.
Rules
In a bid to avoid accidents during the fight, such as broken horns, each bull will only fight an opponent of equal strength so that the duration of the contest can be extended for as long as possible.
When the fight starts, the rope encircling each bull's neck must be watched carefully so it will not wind around their necks and endanger their lives.
The owners are also bound to the rules. Before the fight, they have to sign an agreement, stipulating that they are not forced by other people to join the fight and are ready to bear all the consequences without pressing any charges if something untoward happens to their animals.
After a pair of bulls meet the requirement and the agreement is signed, the fight will soon begin. Each owner brings his bull face-to-face with its opponent.
When the fight starts, spectators start yelling in support of their favorite animal. Several bulls -- Jeumpa, Seulanga and Gajah Puteh -- are highly favored. But, a few members of the audience are worried their favorite will be defeated.
If both bulls are equally matched, the spectators will be satisfied, as the fight will proceed over a decent period of time. A balanced fight will take 20 minutes, while an unbalanced one will only last for a couple of minutes.
The defeated bull will immediately be withdrawn from the site of the fight, while the winner wins the applause of spectators.
Sometimes the spectators use the event for gambling and place bids on their favorite animal.
"Bidding in a bullfight is like additional flavor to make the fight lively," said Maraban, a fan from Ulee Kareung village, Aceh Besar regency.
He said a bull, which has won several fights, will become famous throughout the region and its price will drastically increase.
Favorite
Bullfighting provides special fun for Acehnese, especially those living in villages and in the suburbs. It also lures the interest of local civil servants, who consider it a stress- reliever after work.
The game can also act as a stimulus for local farmers to work harder.
Unfortunately, it is only famous in villages. The game could be an important income source for the local administration if it was developed as a tourist attraction in the province.