Perang Ketupat (Rice Cakes Battle)

The ritual of Perang Ketupat (Rice Cake Battle) or in other name Aci Rah Pengangon meaningful of gratitude to Sanghyang Widhi Wasa (God) for the harvest, spared from drought, as well as prayer to invoke the safety and welfare of mankind. The ritual of perang ketupat held at Kapal village, Mengwi district, Badung regency, approximately 20 minutes western of Denpasar.

Perang Ketupat ritual is one of indigenous cultural traditions of Hindus in Bali, which is unique, and a heritage that still carried over from generation to generation till today. The ritual was first held approximately in 13th century at Kapal Village according to the command (bhisama) of Ki Kebo Iwa, the greatest commander at the mean time in Bali, and now this ritual countinously held by the villagers every year to keep the tradition and also to keep the meaning of the ritual.

This ritual will begin by gathering and do a prayer together by all villagers at the local temple. As Hindus prayer procession, the priest will reciting mantras and sprinkle a holy water (tirtha) to every participants. The participants are all the men, from kids to the old men. They pray to God (Sanghyang Widhi Wasa) to the succesful of the ritual and provide welfare and safety or the villagers.

Done praying, then the participants prepare the battle ammunition, here is the uniqueness of perang ketupat, as its name suggest, the ammunitions are Ketupat (rice cake), collected from the Kapal villagers contribution, amounting to thousands ketupat (rice cakes) are collected, which will be used to strike the opponent.

Ketupat (Rice Cakes)

The participants are devided into two large groups facing each other in some distance about 10 meters. Once the command is given the battle began. Those two group will strike each other with their ammunition, this will become more interesting because of the noisy and cheers of the participants and the audience, some time even the audience get hits by the rice cakes. Fun and religious are combine well here, this rituals running in about 30 minutes.

After perang ketupat done, all participants, villagers are also people who were there laughed and talked together and shake hands, embrace with joy and there is no animosity between them. This attractions or ritual is so exciting, and one of the heritage ritual that preserve by the villagers till nowadays. As well as other annual ritual that happens in other villages such as Makotek at Munggu village, Perang pandan at Tenganan village, Omed-omedan at Sesetan Village, Perang Ketupat is a pride of Kapal Village and also attract more tourist.