Pacu Jawi / Cows Racing, West Sumetera Indonesia

Pacu Jawi or a cow race can be associated to local laguange of Mingkabau is a traditional game attractions in the Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatera Indonesia.  Every year the race held in turns for four weeks that venue in differnt four subsdistric around Tanah Datar each week. They are Pariangan, Rambatan, Lima Kaum, and Sungai Tarab.



The race has existed since hundreds years ago which originally all activities performed by farmer after harvest to fill in free time and also to give new entertaiment for local people around the districs. Currently, the performance of cow race have been so popular around the region and around the world.

There are two main race cow in Indonesia. In Madura is called Karapan Sapi was held in the arid path, Pacu Jawi in Tanah Datar held in paddy field belonging to the local community after harvest and muddy conditions. So unique for the race, just two cows run alone without opponents. The rules are go-staright when race running in the path with perfect time each of contestants. Additionally, this activities is also combining with the custome local dance and music to enhance race more amazing.

The Game of Pacu Jawi

Local farmer as a jockey to race this competitions. A jockey is riding a pair of cows with hijacker equipment to hold the rope and even to bite the tails for both of them. Additional equipment is a tools to plow runways that made from bamboo. This is the important tools to use if the race began. Actually, this tools is always using for farmer to plow rice field. Why both of tails are needing to bite, the reason is if the jockey done to bite the tail more tight, good speed are ballistic.

The winner with special requirement. The cows can run so straight without slightest to turn out to the finish line. From the experience from the jockey, not all of jockeys can do all of this requirement, looks like simple and easy but they failed to make the stabilize the cows go straight but they are switching to another rice field behind them.

How to get there

For tourist need to rent a car to go there. The arena is a quite far and need a couple hours to reach the location. This place is located 41 km southeast bukittinggi. Ussually in the weekend or Saturday. If necessary you can ask the tour guide to assist you.

The entering fee

Some enterprises will charge for foreigner IDR 50,000 per person for donations only. Ask your tour guide to assist you.