Tajen Cockfighting Today

There are many articles or essays in the net which explains cockfighting in Bali in remarkable detail but they are all in the past. So I will give information in relation with cockfighting in Bali after the 1981 ban up to present days.

  

In 1981 the government of Indonesia banned the cockfighting but the practice has merely moved away from prying eyes so that it is less obvious but still very real. Cockfighting runs in the blood Balinese menespecially the older generation, Fred B. Eiseman, Jr author of Sekala Niskala wrote “So popular has cockfighting been in Bali for so many decades, that it is about as realistic to tell a Balinese man that he cannot participate in his favorite sport as it is to tell the sun not to rise”.

  

In the reign of Mangku Pastika (as a head of Bali Provincial Police), the campaign against cockfighting reached its peak, the secular tajen (cockfighting for gambling purpose) virtually vanished from the island but the Tabuh Rah (cockfighting for religious purpose) survived until present day. Tajen has become a rare event.

  

Though the secular tajen virtually vanished from the earth face, the gamblers found a way to satisfy their gambling lust. The Tabuh Rah was modified to fulfill the need of the gamblers. The Tabuh Rah usually consist of three matches (telung sahet) and of course this three matches will not satisfy the need of the gamblers, three matches was expanded to eight or ten matches.

  

This modified Tabuh Rah did not last long. The police grew vigilant and they stop the match when the third match was finished. This situation made the gamblers turn to their only hope to deities in some temples.

Some temples in Bali are well known for holding tajen for 7 until 42 days. This kind tajen can not be touched by the police since it is protected by the deity of the temple where the tajen is held. The deities of these temples are fond of tajen, pestilence and misfortune will fall on the congregations of these temples if the tajen is not held. Of course there were many police officers who tried to stop this tajen but after they stopped this tajen, they usually got an accident or paralyzed by mysterious illness. They can only be saved or healed after asking forgiveness to the deity in the temple where the stopped tajen is held. Sometimes the punishment from the enraged deities cost the lives of the officers.

  

This tajen is usually held to celebrate the temple ceremony (every 210 days). Thousands of gamblers will come from all over Bali. The passionate game is held without any fear, the former glory restored but the economic crisis and the drawback of tourism have taken their toll the size of the bet is reduced significantly nevertheless the joy, the laugh and the tears are still there.

source:blog.baliwww.com/

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On Villa Design in Bali

Driving through the tourism areas of Bali, you can hardly miss to spot hundreds of villas that have established over the last decade. Take a look on these villas especially their designs while you are driving and your drive will turn into architectural trip around the world.

Many of these villas are masterpiece of architectural designs which remind us of European palace and castle, Japanese and Chinese house, Hawaiian hut, North African Kasbah or Hollywood mansion. Yes, there is a need to be different and special. This need seems to be fulfilled by the unique designs of these villas; adding different nuances to the paradise island of Bali and giving you a chance to taste a bit of Africa or Japan while spending your vacation in Bali.

Some villas combine the foreign architecture with traditional Balinese architecture or decorations creating a West-meet-East, East-meet-East, or Mod-ethnic design, in order to infuse the sense of familiarity into the exotic atmosphere of Bali as well as creating a culture-friendly design.

Bali Villas – A Private Piece Of  Paradise

All luxurious Bali Villas in villas-bali.com have been filtered in order to provide you the best Bali Private Villa in experiencing holiday, wedding, honeymoon which guarantee Privacy and Outstanding Personalized Service.

source:blog.baliwww.com/

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Discover The Uniqueness of Bayung Gede (II)

Bayung Gede is the mother of Balinese ancient villages concealing many unique things. For those exceptionally different customs, this village located in Bangli regency is never missed by visitors who have insatiable hunger for Balinese ancient culture. On the previous article, it has been discussed about the unique customary leadership structure. On this piece of writing, other unique customs will be revealed.

Generally, Balinese people have a custom to bury the placenta of the babies. But, Bayung Gede community places placenta in a coconut shell and hang it up on a tree in the graveyard. It sounds terrifying spooky but this tradition is still going on for years and years since hundreds years ago.

Since hundreds years ago also in Bayung Gede there is a different burial system for female and male dead bodies. Female is the symbol of earth and male is the symbol of sky and so the burial position is exchanged. The female dead bodies are buried into usual upward position while the male bodies are laid facedown. These positions according to Wayan Suwela describe the meeting of the sky and the earth.

Besides the three unique traditions above, the decision to use Bayung Gede as a model of community – based tourism project has to do with another unique custom. In Bayung Gede, new married couples are forbidden to step into home yard. They are also not considered as the part of Bayung Gede community before giving tumbakan (sort of dowry) in the form of two cows to the village and fasting. Is that all? No. New married couples are obliged to do panyekeban procession (live in a separated place to become mature people) in a small hut far away from the center of the village.

This village whose people work mostly as farmers indeed does not have written customary law. People of Bayung Gede live based on the convention which still exists since years ago and this is a fact that they can be able to live peacefully using only the convention.

source:blog.baliwww.com/

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Discover The Ancient Uniqueness of Bayung Gede (I)

As a matter of fact, Bangli is the home of many villages which still hold ancient Balinese culture (Bali Aga). Panglipuran village is one of them concealing very ancient but exotic architectures. Bonyoh and Sekardadi are the other two. And Bayung Gede is the mother of the Balinese ancient villages.

Fresh air with silent green surrounding will welcome people at Bayung Gede. No one would expect that this village hides privileged customary leadership structure, privileged rules for new married couples, and privileged way in burial. For those unique cultures, Bayung Gede becomes one of 20 villages in Indonesia which attract Indonesian government to develop the tourism at this village in which the origin of the name is still unclear.

There are two versions. First report is related to a long complex myth involving the Lord Siva’s asceticism. This version is hard to be accepted by many people as facts of history. Another logical version was stated by Wayan Suwela. He argued that the name of Bayung Gede is actually Bayu Gede or “Super Power”. In the past, the ancestors needed big big power to clear a dense forest land to be a place for many people to live.

And at that place in which the origin is the forest land, people are still faithful to the ancient customary leadership system called Paduluan Sasih Nem Belas. This structure consists of 4 important positions and 16 subordinates. These 4 important persons who have titles Jero Kubayan Mucuk, Jero Kubayan Nyoman, Jero Bahu Mucuk, Jero Bahu Nyoman are free from customary fine and responsible to prepare the ceremonial stuffs. Each person of Bayung Gede community will definitely be in that structure one day as long as the person matching up to the criteria.

Paduluan Sasih Nem Belas only has responsibility in the area involving ceremonies while Kelihan Desa runs the system of government. However, Bayung Village has no customary written law or awig-awig. They use and strictly follow only the convention.

source:blog.baliwww.com/

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