Hundreds gathered to watch the traditional cattle racing event held in Binangga, Central Sulawesi.

Footage from June 6 the jockeys on carts being pulled by two cows each racing across the 300-metre track.

The race is held at the end of the rice harvest according to a local named Iwan Januar.

"This tradition has been passed down from generation to generation by Binanngga and Sigi residents in general," he added.

"And this competition is also to encourage farmers to produce quality cows," Januar said.

The winner of the race is given five cows along with a cash prize.

The competition has not been held for two years due to COVID-19.

Residents of Binangga Village, Marawola District, Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, again held a Cow Racing Competition, Monday 6 June 2022. Previously, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this competition was postponed for two years starting from 2020 to 2021.


This is the cow racing competition held in Binannga Village.

A pair of cows competed quickly with other cows until they reached the finish line.

There are two jockeys in each oxcart participating in the race.

In addition to cows that have a fast run. The jockey in this race is also the winner.

The jockey must be adept at controlling the cow while running fast.

One of the residents of Binangga, Iwan Januar, said that the cattle racing competition in Binangga was held as part of tradition and an expression of gratitude for the residents for the end of the rice harvest.

"This tradition has been passed down from generation to generation by Binanngga and Sigi residents in general," said Iwan.

Iwan said, apart from being a cultural attraction, the cow racing championship was held to strengthen the relationship between farmers.

"And this competition is also to encourage farmers to produce quality cows," said Iwan.

Another resident of Binanngga, Sulaeman Jani, said that since the beginning, cow racing has always been carried out by residents of Binanngga. It can be implemented up to two times a year.
And not only Binanngga, neighboring villages and a number of other villages in Sigi also often do this. Like in Biromaru Village, the capital city of Sigi Regency.

"It's just that since Covid-19 hit from 2020-2021, the cow racing competition has not been held for two years. And only in 2022 it will be held again," said Sulaeman.

Sulaeman said that cow racing is usually held two or three weeks after residents harvest rice in the fields.

“Coinciding with the new farmers harvesting rice a week ago, this cow race was then held. We are very enthusiastic about this competition,” he said.

The committee for the cow race, H Muhtar said, this time the cow race competed in several classes. Two of them, general and mixed classes.

Participants who take part in a fast race on a 300-meter track.

"The prizes in the competition are still the same as in the previous competition, namely five cows and cash," said Muhtar.

Muhtar said that the majority of the participants in this competition were Sigi residents who worked as farmers and cattle ranchers.

There were 20 pairs of cows participating in the competition this time.

“Cows that are entered in this competition must be over two years old. And usually this cow is used to plow the fields too," said Muhtar.

Muhtar said that the tradition of the cow race continues to be cared for by the residents of Sigi. Even though the times are moving with technological advances, the traditional culture of the kaili people (original Sigi tribe), namely the cow race, must be maintained.

"So, if we don't succeed our parents, who will do this? We continue to hold this cattle competition so that our children and grandchildren can also witness it so that when they grow up they can continue to carry out this tradition," said Muhtar.


Video by : Opan Bustan / Opn Images Indonesia