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Makepung are in Indonesian language means romp, is a tradition of water buffalo races which have long runway attached to the Balinese, especially in Jembrana. This tradition originally was a game of farmers who performed at the sidelines of plowing a field at harvest. At that time, they are clashing with spurring rapid buffalo tied to a cart and is controlled by a jockey.

Increasingly, fraudulent activity that was originally developed and increasingly in demand among many. Now, Makepung has become one of the most interesting cultural attractions and many watched by tourists including foreign tourists. Not only that, even this buffalo race racing has become an annual agenda of tourism in Bali and professionally managed.

Today, Makepung not only by farmers alone. Employees and employers of the city too much to become participants and supporters. Moreover, in a big fight, Governors Cup for example, participants who attended Makepung could reach about 300 pairs of water buffalo or even more. The atmosphere was very festive with the presence of the musicians jegog (Balinese gamelan made from bamboo) to enliven the atmosphere of the race.

When starting competed in the 1970′s, the rules and completeness in Makepung participate undergone several changes. For example, a buffalo that had only now become a pair. Then, cikar or carts for jockeys that used a large, now replaced with smaller ones. Participants Makepung buffalo, now also more ‘fashionable’ in the presence of various kinds of ornaments in the form of a crown mounted buffalo head and a green or red flags in each cikar. Meanwhile, the arena-shaped ground track Makepung a ‘U’, as long as 1-2 km.

In contrast to Kerapan Madura Cattle that are race or other event, Makepung has a slightly unique rules. The winner of this contest is not only determined who or where the buffalo pairs who reached the finish line first only, but will also be determined from the distance between the participants who were playing. That is, a participant will be deemed the winner if he had been at the forefront when it reaches the finish and be able to keep a distance with the participants in tow, as far as 10 m.

However, if the spouse who is behind the water buffalo could narrow the distance with the participants in front of him, to less than 10 m, then the pair of buffalo on the back that will come out as winners. The race completed within eight to ten minutes in each of his race.

Unique things that make Makepung become an exciting and interesting spectacle, is the expression of a jockey who is above cikar and are being encouraged at both the buffalo with the chanting of 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, no surprise when buffalo are used to bleed after taking this.

That add thrill Makepung, in every race there 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 eventually sink to the plot of a rice field or inverted. The audience was cheering