The Exciting Sport Of Sabung Ayam
The sacred and beautiful land of Indonesia holds many traditions and cultures of the past in high regard, even as the country grows to be one of the most advanced technological nations on this planet. Among hundreds of rich traditions and culture, cockfighting or sabung ayam as it is locally known, is a major one. It seems pretty obvious what this activity entails but for the Indonesian people it is more than just a popular sport. Many people spend their entire lives breeding cocks and training them to be prepared for the upcoming fights. People bet a lot of money on the matches and there is a large viewership of this sport in Indonesia as well. Let us delve deeper into this tradition and see what the hype is all about.
Why Is Cockfighting Important In Indonesia?
At first glance this seems like a really stupid and a cruel way to entertain people. It is actually banned in most of the provinces in Indonesia due to these reasons. But the story of sabung ayam actually transcends all laws. It started of long back in the country as a part of a religious tradition. Today it still exists as a part of the same tradition. Tourists from all over the world come to Indonesia to explore the country’s beautiful advancements as well as for its rich heritage. Cockfighting is especially very popular in Bali. People in Bali see this as a very important and integral part of their society and their culture. This sport is held in accordance to a tradition that, according to indigenous people, saves them from demons. Spilling the blood of cocks on the floor during sabung ayam wards away evil spirits. And this has been existing in their society for hundreds of years.
Sabung Ayam – A Brief Intro
The preparation of this seemingly entertaining sport begins months before the actual event. Cock trainers start preparing their fighters by giving them protein and strengthening them through practice matches. To ensure a fair contest all the cocks coming into the fight are of equal weight. This is also strictly followed. On the day of fight people gather around the arena to witness they might clash of these winged gladiators. To ensure that a lot of blood is spilled on the ground during the match, the claws are fitted with metal attachments. Spreading blood on the floor is the prime part of the ritual.