Understanding Bali Culture in Cock Fighting

Animal fights take place all over the world. Unlike bullfights in Spain, we have cocks fighting in Bali. If you see a gathering of a large group of males in Bali, there is a good chance that one is being held. The cocks are prepared by their owners for the fight. When the battle starts, they are put face to face with their temperamental character, and they are allowed to start the fight with their “cocky behaviour”. The battle is only over when the blood of one of the cocks has flowed down the street. However, the question is, does the flowing blood of the cock represent a hobby that has gotten out of hand and involves gambling, or is it a religious cleansing tradition?

Getting the Cocks Ready

The owners of the cocks do everything in their power to get their cock in top condition because the stakes are high, and winning is essential. The cock is treated as a pet at home. Its feet are massaged regularly, and its feathers are stroked until they are shiny. However, the animal is not offered a luxurious stay; to get used to all the noise during a cockfight, the cock stays in a small braided basket at the side of the road.

When the moment of the fight has come, the cocks are checked for equal strength, and the owners discuss the money deposit. Meanwhile, the audience can also deposit money for their favourite cock. Both cockers are assigned their own specialist coach who uses tricks during the match to make the cocks aggressive. When the sharp knives are tied around the cocks’ legs, the fight can finally begin, and the life of one of the cocks will soon come to an end.

Ready, Set, GO!

A crowd of men has gathered around the place where the cockfight is taking place. Finally, the moment has arrived, and the cocks spread their feathers and spring up to claw at each other. From a cheering crowd that can already smell the win to screaming and crying men who have to take their loss, a group that can be compared to football fans on the sidelines of an important game. However, the emotions are often even higher during the cockfight because the money invested is usually a whole month’s salary for the local people.

The Winner Takes All!

The fight is over when one of the cocks is dead, and the blood has flowed down the street. The owner of the winning cock takes the money, and the loser loses not only his money but also his cock. There is not even a nice dinner left for the loser because the winner also gets to take the dead rooster home. Together with the losing owner, everyone who gambled on the dead cock has also lost their money.

Part of Culture and Religion?

Cockfighting is part of Balinese Hinduism and is used in religious ceremonies and temple cleansing. The blood of the lost cock is used to drive away evil spirits; after three cockfights, enough blood has flowed through the temple, and everything is back to harmony and balance. Besides the religious significance of cockfighting, it is a great hobby for many Balinese men and, therefore, a way of escaping from their daily routine. Taking care of the cocks and the fight is a social activity.

Illegal or Legal?

Indonesian government banned all forms of gambling in the 1980s. This rule has ensured that big games with sky-high stakes have disappeared. However, the religious aspects of cockfighting within Balinese Hinduism were protected, which is why the fights can still occur within the temples’ walls. But what is not allowed is extra exciting, and men often look for village houses or sheds to organise a cockfight, forgetting that gambling is not permitted. So how do the police deal with this? They usually keep their distance or are being paid. They are part of the local population themselves and will not easily give their neighbour, brother, or friend a penalty.

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Getting the Cocks Ready

Ready, Set, GO!

The Winner Takes All!

Part of Culture and Religion?

Illegal or Legal?

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