Dokar Race

The Traditional horse pulling transportation becak is easily found in Denpasar, especially around the Badung busy market or in Kreneng. Everyday, they pick up local passengers but sometimes they also take foreigner visitors around the city.

On Sunday, March 2 in Renon city courtyard, there was a ‘Dokar Race’ where the representatives of each Persatuan Dokar (Dokar Association) took part in this race. In Denpasar, there are at least 3 Dokar Associations including in Kepaon, Monang Maning and Pasar Badung (Badung market).
The competing dokar left the start line in front of Bali Governor Office) speedily. During the competition, participants have to pass the zigzag (slalom test) challenge; driving dokar along very narrow streets. They are not allowed to touch the obstacles that are placed on the roads during the competition as they will lose points.
This competition is just like a car race. Why not? A dokar can go just like a car but it has ornaments on it. When there was an uncontrolled dokar, the audiences shouted in fear and excitement. Nevertheless, the audiences avidly watched this attractive competition, sponsored by Kesatuan Mahasiswa Hindu Dharma Indonesia (KMHDI); (Indonesian Hindu Dharma Colleges Association), in order to celebrate the 11th anniversary of the Denpasar municipality.
The categories for this first dokar competition were in skill and speed of the dokar driver and the design and decoration of the dokar it self. For the best designed dokar Made Manik took first place winning Rp 150 000, second place with Rp 100 000 came Nyoman Gomloh and third place went to Made Manda with Rp 50 000.
The winners for skill and speed were Ketut Unyil, Affandi and Nengah Saba winning each Rp 500 000, Rp 400 000, and Rp 300 000. (dar)

Pecalang Take off Their Kris Daggers

The customary village or desa adat in Bali has a traditional security officer. It is called pecalang or jagabaya. In the era of Dutch occupation it was called prayoda. Besides maintaining the security of the village, the pecalang could also be mobilized for the needs of the other purposes of the Dutch government.

As the village security officer, the pecalang wears a costume that is very traditional. Their basic costume consists of a headband, sarong with kancut (one of the corners is sticking out downward), kampuh poleng after sarong, and a kris dagger affixed on the back and a red hibiscus behind the ear.
The Pecalang is not only in charge of handling security affairs at a village level. Having observed the development of pecalang from time to time, they have has also given a significant contribution to a wider scope than the village area or desa pekraman. Along with other components of security officers, like the police and the army, they were involved in a national event of one leading political party that held its congress in Bali in 1998. Another was the international event, The World Summit Meeting, in Nusa Dua in 2002.
Other than handling security affairs, nowadays pecalang has a football team which some times is played in the green fields. They roll on the grass or head the ball to each other when passing the ball. How funny it looks as it is unusual to see football teams with such costumes, the combination of ordinary clothes with traditional ones. By doing so, this maintains the co-operation among the pecalang, building friendship with others and presenting entertainment to their spectators. The spectators do not need to feel worried, as they do not affix any kris or other kind of weapon on the back. (pun)