Surely i am sure that you are familiar with this unique racing (If you are Indonesian, haha), karapan sapi (literally cow racing). Karapan sapi is local tradition of Madura people. Being held every August until September, the event is held in every village at Madura and become their famous tropical vacation destination. In this event the visitors not only see a racing but they also can watch a unique local tradition before the competition. So if you want to know about this unique tradition you must put Madura Island as one of your tropical vacation destination plan.


At this traditional racing, one cart will be pulled by two cows with a man as the rider. It will take 100 – 180 meter distance in one track. Karapan sapi is not only about the racing but also about man honored. The man who wins the race will have famous and glorious in all but if they lose, they will be loss their honored. This makes all of participants will always be trying hard to be a winner. Therefore, the visitors can see many rituals which are done by the participants to make their cow winning the race.


Karapan sapi is done in track field which you can find in every city in Madura. To see this race is very easy. The visitors only have to go to Madura which can reach from East Java Province Capital, Surabaya. From Surabaya you can go to Madura Island through the longest bride in Indonesia, Suramadu. At Madura you can find this ceremony in every village every August and September.

Just pack your bag and feel your great tropical vacation when you watch karapan sapi at Madura Island. See you!!!! (Source)

In Bali there are frequent ceremonies that celebrate the Hindu faith. Every day, according to the Balinese lunar calendar, has some significance that requires prayer and offerings to appease the Gods. Through religion and belief, the Balinese are bound to the ritual traditions that are an intrinsic part of their heritage. It is this fascinating culture that has drawn so many travellers’ to Bali’s shores.

On Saturday, 16th September, the Balinese will celebrate Saraswati Day. Saraswati is the Balinese Goddess of knowledge, wisdom and the arts. She is one of most revered deities that Balinese Hindu’s worship and is depicted as a very beautiful woman with four arms carrying symbols related to science and the arts. Huge stone sculptures and images of the Goddess Saraswati at the front entrance of many Balinese schools and universities is evidence of the level of local respect towards education.

Saraswati Day honours the knowledge that is bestowed on mankind. It is believed that without science and art it is impossible to create anything new on this earth. Many Balinese try to refrain from reading or writing on this special ceremonial day.

In schools and institutes of education all around the island students gather early in the morning dressed in their ceremonial finery for a session of communal prayer. Resource books are piled high and blessed with offering of fruit, flowers and a sprinkling of holy water. Students take this opportunity to pray for guidance with future studies and to lead a harmonious life that adheres to the basic guidelines of Hinduism.

On the morning that follows Saraswati Day worshippers go to the sea to bathe and purify themselves in a cleansing ritual. This marks the conclusion of this particular religious occasion where local Hindu’s demonstrate their eternal gratitude to God Almighty who is personified by the ethereal Goddess Saraswati.