'Makepung' a contest between paranormals

'Makepung' a contest between paranormals

N Jagadhita, Contributor/Denpasar

If one is in Jembrana regency in Bali between June and December,
there will be a good chance to see a unique traditional buffalo
race called Makepung.

Buffalo races, held by farmers to celebrate a good harvest,
have now become a tourist attraction. Despite the dwindling
farmland due to development activities, the race remains popular.

The event was adapted from an old farmers game. The farmers,
while hauling their rice, would race each other.

As the saying goes, "time is money" and so it was during
harvest time. The farmers would load up as much rice from the
paddy onto a cikar, a wooden cart pulled by two buffaloes. The
faster they got to their destination, the better, because this
meant that they could repeat the process more often throughout
the day during the crucial harvest time.

So they would do all they could to make the carts light and
efficient -- literally built for speed. Soon, they realized it
was quite an enjoyable competition to see who had the fastest
cart and the race was born.

Later on, the race became more popular and was then organized
as a proper event called the makepung. The two buffaloes that
pull the cart are called pepadu and they are usually males.

The racers now not only keep the wheels of the carts well-
oiled and as light as possible, but also give the racing
buffaloes extra special treatment. A few days before the race,
they train with the buffaloes and provide them with eggs mixed
with honey and a commercially available energy drink from local
shops. They also give them the highest quality food.

Besides the physical treatment, the buffaloes also receive
"blessings" from the supernatural world, according to Ida Bagus
Kade Edenay, a pepadu owner who is also a pemangku (religious
leader) for makepung enthusiasts club of Ijo Gading Timur.

He said that a ritual laden with magic spells is held for his
buffaloes a day before the race to calm them and to make them
stronger. It is also thought that a good spell will make other
buffaloes fear them, so that the other one loses confidence
before the race even begins. Many buffalo owners are also known
to ask their local shaman to cast a powerful spell.

So, one can imagine how serious the event becomes, as it is
not just a competition among buffaloes, but also one between the
various magic men and women in the area to determine who has more
power.

A pemangku holds a religious ceremony for the buffaloes prior
to and after the big matches with many special offerings
presented. It is quite similar to the treatment of heroes before
they go off to war and when they return.

The night before the match, the buffaloes sleep near the
racetrack. They are diligently guarded by the owners, who
expressly forbid anyone to touch them or to treat them with
anything but the utmost respect. The owners also protect the
buffaloes against supernatural attacks by erecting "magic" fences
around them.

On race day, the buffaloes are adorned with colorful,
decorative horn ornaments, as well those for the neck and the
tail. The cart is also elaborately adorned. The ornaments and
flags glitter in the morning sun on the day of the big match.

The owners of the buffaloes do not necessarily ride their own
carts anymore like the old farmers, as it is sometimes better to
hire a lighter, more experienced jockey for the task.

Each match will involve two groups from different areas. The
team from the western part of Jembrana -- west of Ijo Gading
river -- is called Ijo Gading Barat, and their big rivals to the
east is called Ijo Gading Timur.

There are a number of categories in any given match, from
beginner to advanced. Each team will run buffaloes for each
category. But unlike a motorcycle racing or the Olympic 100-meter
dash, the buffaloes do not start at the same time. After the
first pepadu reaches a certain distance, the second pepadu will
be released.

The jury will raise a flag to decide who wins or loses.

In order to make the buffaloes run faster, the jockey usually
shouts, and at times whips them with a rattan stick with nails in
it that creates gashes and lacerations all over the buffaloes'
after a race.

Even though it is bloody, the people believe that it is better
to hit the animals with sharp nails rather than with a blunt
stick because the wounds will heal faster. They maintain that if
the buffalo is beaten black and blue, then it will be difficult
for the animal to recover.

The ones that win will be given even more special treatment,
usually with a victory party.

Makepung races usually take place in Delod Berawah, Mertasari,
Banyubiru and Brawantangi. There are three main districts in the
provincial level competition, in which the participants vie for
the Regent's Cup, the Governor's Cup and the Perancak Cup.