COCKFIGHTS IN BALI
Cockfights have the ceremonial purpose of ritually spilling blood, an important pacification of the demons that escort Hindu temple festivals. In fact, cockfight is required, not just allowed at every Balinese temple festival or religious ceremony. The blood is an offering to the hungry forces of evil, the “butas and kalas”
The cocks that are used in cockfighting are specially treated in preparation for the cockfight. They are fondled, massaged, plucked, bathed, deloused, and fed the choicest mixtures of corn, rice, egg, and proprietary strength-building ingredients. It is said that a mixture of chopped grilled meat and jack-fruit leaves thickens the blood and prevents serious bleeding when injury results from the fight.
Most cockfights begin in the afternoon. Only the larger temples have morning starts. A cockfight is a festive event. Ladies set up stands and sell many things ranging from fruit, rice cakes, sate, and shaved ice with sweet, brightly colored syrups. Men play cards and shoot dice. In more recent times vendors sell plastic buckets, photographs, calendars, stuffed animals, and toys for kids.
The ceremony starts when the cocks are brought to the arena in small, flexible bamboo cages. The cages are lined up around the edge of the arena, inside the barricade, and their handlers’ squat behind them. Then a white-clad priest advances to the center of the arena and presents offerings on the ground to the butas and Kalas, chanting over them, ringing his bell over them, and finally pouring rice wine on the ground. Then he makes similar offerings to the gods in a shrine built up off the ground at a corner of the arena. Blood is on the way.
Usually, there are 3 fights & each cockfight between 2 birds ends after three rounds or when one cock is no longer able to continue fighting. After the fights, the crowds don’t automatically disperse like at the end of other sporting events, instead, males will just stay behind chatting about the match or anything else. This traditional cockfight ceremony is now not held as often in past times, so if you interested to see a cockfight, you can ask some your villa office or local people to take you to villages that still run this ceremony.