In Bali, almost everybody has several jobs to do at the same period. Maybe a man is an artist, but at the same time he is probably also a farmer. They may have some ducks, pigs, cows, or local chickens. All these domestic animals are very useful for the survival of the Balinese who firmly keep their traditions and conduct religious ceremonies in line with Hindu teachings.
Every ceremony certainly needs meat as part of the sesaji offering, depending on the kind of ceremony and the level of ceremony conducted. The higher the ceremony level, the more animals are needed to provide an offering. For instance, a sacrificial macaru ceremony of Panca Sata would make use of five chickens, respectively having feathers of black, white, reddish, white-and-black, and mixed color.
Apart from ceremonial needs, domestic animals are also butchered for daily needs to make dishes such as lawar chopped meat, ares vegetables, sate roasted meat, serapah Balinese special dish, urutan cuisine.
Some people ask whether a ceremony conducted by sacrificing animals does not contradict the ahimsa teachings, forbidding the killing of living creatures. The Balinese look at it from a broader viewpoint with respect to the divine teachings of niskala, stipulating that every animal proposed as a sacred sacrifice is to be awarded the opportunity to gain a higher level of life and to become more perfect being.
Similar is the case when ordinary people slaughter an animal for daily consumption, he would cite a prayer before killing the animal, hoping that the animal’s soul might gain a peaceful place in Heaven.
The sacred slaughter of animals is known as penyupatan, meaning the returning of the beast to its place of origin in order to gain a more perfect level. The meaning of penyupatan has been written about in a wide-ranging description in Widisatra palm-leaf ‘lontar’ holy book. So, animals play a very important role in Bali’s community, mainly in the eyes of the Balinese cattle breeders
On the Tumpek Kandang Day the Balinese, mainly those busy in rearing cattle, render offerings to the Sang Hyang Rare Angon with a prayer hoping that the beasts will grow fat and healthy. Other people have also labeled the day Tumpek Uye, celebrated every six months, this year on February 8, according to the Balinese traditional calendar, to pray for blessing from Sang Hyang Rare Angon to guarantee the cattle safety.
Rich cattle breeders of course will make a grand and complete offering, dedicated to Sang Hyang Rare Angon. Cattle stalls will be cleaned and decorated as beautifully as possible, while the cattle will be bathed and decorated with artistic cloths around their necks or backs.
It has been noticed Balinese cattle owners practice a modern method of rearing cattle in combination with the traditional way of holding ceremonies on the occasion of the Tumpek Kandang day. Do you want to see this ceremony? Asks your travel agent or your tour guides to visit Balinese villages where there are many domestic animals, and you are sure to witness this ceremony.

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