Cockfighting (Tajen) Culture | The Boundary Between Gambling and Ritual
Cockfighting (Tajen) Culture | The Boundary Between Gambling and Ritual
Ties within male society, cockfighting as a temple offering, a tradition in a legal gray area.
Cockfighting (Tajen) is a deeply ingrained cultural practice within Balinese male society, possessing both light and shadow aspects. On one hand, it serves as 'Tabuh Rah,' a sacred blood sacrifice considered essential for temple ceremonies. The chicken blood spilled onto the earth is believed to appease and placate lower spirits, purifying the ground. However, outside this ritual context, Tajen transforms into a fervent gambling arena where male prestige and large sums of money are fiercely contested. Although gambling is illegal under Indonesian law, Tajen often takes place semi-publicly under the guise of ritual. More than mere entertainment or gambling, cockfighting is a complex key to understanding Balinese male social networks, status dynamics, and spirituality.
Sacred Offering: The Blood Ritual of 'Tabuh Rah'
Before major Balinese Hindu ceremonies, the ritual known as 'Tabuh Rah' (spilling blood) is considered indispensable. It involves offering chicken blood to the Bhuta Kala, the chthonic spirits dwelling in the underworld, to satisfy their hunger and prevent them from disrupting the sacred rites. In this context, cockfighting is a holy religious act, and traditionally, at least three matches must be held. The blood spilled serves as a sacrifice to purify the earth and maintain cosmic balance; gambling is not its original purpose. This religious justification is the primary reason why the culture of cockfighting persists in Balinese society.
Men's Passion and Social Status
Beyond its ritual framework, Tajen (cockfighting for sport/gambling) is one of the most passionate pastimes for Balinese men. They invest significant affection, time, and money into raising their roosters, aiming to breed the ultimate fighting champion. Meticulous attention is paid to the bird's lineage, training regimen, diet, and even massages and vitamins. Owning a strong rooster becomes a symbol of the owner's masculinity and social standing. The cockfighting arena (kalangan) functions as an exclusive male social space, a venue for information exchange where men from various social strata share the excitement equally, playing an important role within the community.
Caught Between Law and Tradition
Gambling is strictly prohibited by Indonesian law. However, the necessity of 'Tabuh Rah' as a religious ritual provides a 'shield' that allows cockfighting to continue. Many Tajen events involving heavy betting are organized ostensibly as part of a temple festival program, often tolerated by the police. This ambiguity highlights the tension between modern legal systems and deeply rooted cultural traditions. Amidst growing criticism from animal welfare perspectives, the culture of cockfightingโwith its multiple facets as sacred ritual, social entertainment, and illegal gamblingโserves as a mirror reflecting the complex contradictions within contemporary Balinese society.
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