Witnessing the Excitement of the Buffalo Barapan Tradition in West Sumbawa, Indonesia
Madura has a well-known beef karapan tradition, West Sumatra has pacu jawi as a tradition, not to mention Sumbawa Island also has buffalo barapan which is the pride of its people. Precisely in West Sumbawa Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, buffalo barapan has taken root and has become a tradition that is always eagerly awaited for its continuation.
Excitement will always be created when the buffalo race is held. The buffalo owners enthusiastically bring in their choice of buffalo to be compared with other buffalo. Usually held before and after the harvest season, the buffalo barapan is a form of gratitude for the Sumbawa people to the Almighty, as well as a way to loosen the soil. In addition, the buffalo barapan is also a connection between the Sumbawa people and others by sharing happiness.
This tradition, which has been rooted in the culture of the Sumbawa people, is carried out in selected rice fields. Each buffalo that became a participant was distinguished by age, from kindergarten class to adult class. The age of the buffalo is usually from 1 year to 5 years – when the buffalo has reached adulthood.
When the buffalo race is held, the people of Sumbawa and its surroundings will flock to watch the race. The excitement of the match became a very interesting spectacle. Moreover, the muddy rice fields sometimes make the faces of the jockeys black with mud and this is eagerly awaited by buffalo race fans because it invites laughter.
The job of the jockey in the buffalo race area is not only riding a buffalo. Speed and how to balance the body in riding a buffalo to hit the saka are also things that are not easy to do. Saka, which is a wooden stick stuck in one corner of the rice field, becomes a pillar for the jockeys to be able to drop or hit the saka in the shortest possible time.
Participants in the buffalo race did not aim for the prize given, because it was not too big. Barapan buffalo is more of an arena for betting on self-esteem and dignity. Not to mention the price of buffalo that soared if it managed to become a champion. Just imagine the price of a buffalo can rise to Rp. 100 million. Amazing, isn't it?
Barapan buffalo is one of the traditions of the Sumbawa people which is the wealth of the archipelago's traditional treasures. It is the responsibility of the younger generation to love their own culture so that traditions such as buffalo barapan are not lost in time.