While nature is Jembrana's major claim to fame, Jembrana's cultural
attractions are no less rich. As elsewhere on Bali, Jembrana's residents keep
the ancient Balinese arts, musics and dance alive.
Jembrana also has a special custom found nowhere else on Bali. The Makepung,
exhilarating races that pit water buffalows decorated with colorful trappings
againts each other and their daredevil jockeys. Held to celebrate the bounty of
the harvest, the Makepung are an extraordinary spectacle off skills and
traditions. Winners of the races are honored in their communities as
representing Balinese values of strength and masculinity. |
Jembrana is also a home to the Gamelan Jegog, which unlike other gamelan instruments elsewhere on Bali, it uses hugh bamboo xylophones to produce its exotic tones.
Gamelan percussion orchestras beat out other wordly rhytms into the fresh night air and elaborately costumed dancers tread out spellbinding steps in sacred dances to please the Gods. The ancient arts of wood and stone carvings, paintings, weavings and offering making create stunning visual displays to enchant guests. Ancient Hindu epics are told through traditional performances of masked dancers and shadow plays.
(Source : Bali Interactive CD-Rom "Bali, the Island of Peace" by Bali Tourism Authority, 2000)
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