If you want to experience the true pulse of Sumbawa’s culture infused with adrenaline, Barapan Kebo is the answer. This traditional event and folk sport has long been an inseparable part of Sumbawan life, deeply rooted in an agrarian way of living. More than just a competition, Barapan Kebo is a people’s festival that unites community spirit, pride, and cultural heritage.

Barapan Kebo events are held on a rotating weekly basis, moving from one area to another, from Sumbawa Regency to West Sumbawa Regency, two regions bound by equally strong cultural roots. Each event consistently draws thousands of spectators, creating a festive atmosphere amid vast rice fields.

Taking place in a muddy arena, the competition involves a pair of buffaloes bound together with a wooden yoke called noga. The buffaloes are carefully selected based on specific criteria and guided by a jockey known as a juki, who stands on a wooden plank called kareng while steering them forward.

The race is held in specially prepared rice fields that are readied a day in advance. Hundreds of buffalo pairs participate in a single event, each required to charge forward and strike a wooden pole known as the tiang saka at the end of the track.

With hundreds of buffalo pairs competing, Barapan Kebo becomes a spectacular, adrenaline-pumping sight. Winning buffaloes gain extraordinary value, with champion pairs often selling for astonishing prices that can reach hundreds of millions of rupiah.

Its uniqueness, festive energy, and deep cultural significance make Barapan Kebo a powerful attraction for local, national, and international visitors alike. Visiting Sumbawa is not just about witnessing tradition, but about feeling the living spirit of its people. Barapan Kebo is a compelling reason why Sumbawa deserves a place on your cultural travel list.