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.