Makepung, in the Balinese language, literally means chasing around. This ancient tradition, became popular in the 1930"s, but had been around for a long time before this in the still agrarian region of Western Bali. It almost disappeared, but over the last few years, the tourist authorities of Western Bali have revived this colourful event. It is held annually at 2 different locations, Negara and in Kaliasem village, Lovina, It is an amazing spectacle, where the buffalos are dressed up like kings and lions. It originated as a race between farmers, in their spare time during the harvest season. Today the Makepung has become a colourful spectacle loved by locals and foreign tourists alike, and it is an annual event. Participants now, are not only local farmers, but also businessmen and employees, and the traditional carts, have now been ornately painted. The participants normally wear brightly coloured shirts, to make them more visible, and you can see lots of bright reds and greens. The most elaborate of these races takes place during Indonesian Independence day on the 17th August, in Negara. This vibrant event also takes place in Kaliasem village, Lovina, at the end of September, colliding with the end of the Lovina festival.
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