COCK FIGHTING    
Many Balinese like to raise fighting cocks. Sadly though, the cockfighting is not for the sake of  sport.The cock raisers usually tie a small sharp knife called taji on the legs of each cock.  The knives are specially made and specially looked after too, and are tied to the legs with a piece of string before the cocks fight. Cockfighting is actually used as a means of gambling. The cocks that run away, which in Balinese are called jerih, or die after the fight, are the losers.  
The fighting cocks are raised and kept in a cage called guwungan. They have a special menu: corn mixed with powdered grains and sadek - meat from animals that are considered sacred - mixed with materials that give strength to the cocks to fight. The men who like cock fighting like to hold and stroke the cocks while squatting for hours on the veranda of their houses. They get an enjoyment we cannot figure out. 
The fighting cocks have various kinds of colours. The study of the colours of the fighting cocks can be found in the Lontar Pengayam-ayaman, a Balinese manuscript that describes everything pertaining to cockfighting. In its early practice, cockfighting was aimed at neutralizing evil spirits called buthakala. It was held in religious ceremonies to focus on the running of the cock’s blood onto the earth. However, ever since it has been penetrated by gambling, cock fights are held any time and anywhere. Usually they have to be done in secret, and its proponents play hide and seek with the police. 
The law enforcers are actually not concerned with the cockfighting. However, gambling is illegal in Indonesia. Cockfighting gambling has many aspects - the betting systems are varied. If one believes that the cock he owns will win, he will bet three against two, a cockfighting system called neludo. Sometimes they also have gasal betting that means a four against five betting system. It means that if one wins he will receive money five times more than what he bets. Betting with the same proportion is called baret, whilst cok refers to the four to three betting system.  
The participants of the cockfighting are normally honest, forthright, and friendly. The winners will treat the losers. Sometimes the winners spare some money to the losers so that they can buy food to eat with their families.  
This is the unique life of bebotoh, people who engage in cockfighting in Bali. They live simply, yet are always cheerful.  Unlike gamblers who disregard the code of ethics, the bebotoh observe the rules stipulated in the study of cockfighting. Gamblers seek material achievement and this group of people have jeopardized the image of bebotoh. 
Kt. Wiana