Playing spinning top, expression of gratitude for abundant crops

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Residents of the four Dalem Tamblingan customary villages; Munduk, Gobleg, Gesing and Uma Jero in the subdistrict of Banjar, have all maintained a particular part of their customary heritage. It is known as megangsing or spinning top games. The top spinning games are commonly organized as a competition among villages and serve to express their gratitude for the success of the clove or coffee harvests in these four villages.

In line with development, the spinning top games have started to be presented as in other contexts, such as last weekend’s Twin Lakes Festival.  During the event, hundreds of people from the four villages thronged the shores of Lake Tamblingan at Munduk village. They came to watch the spinning top competition that was held in a special arena on the shores of the Lake.According to the local residents, spinning top game are a form of thanksgiving for the annual harvest. But lately, the games are held not only at every coffee harvest but also for other special events. What’s more, this traditional game is ginning such popularity that it has inspired local people to establish spinning top group in the four villages.
Chief of Munduk customary village, Jro Putu Ardana, said that the development of spinning top groups in the four Dalem Tamblingan villages is a positive thing and evidence that the traditional games of the ancestral heritage remain sustainable and should be protected from being snuffed out by modern games. With this intention the game has been packaged as a tourist attraction. Moreover, the annual event held by the county government has become an opportunity for promoting top spinning to the public, especially to travelers. “The number of existing groups indicates that the younger generation cares to preserve this heritage. Currently the government is also serious in promoting this heritage,” he said.
Ardana added that the rules of the spinning top game are very simple. All the players have to bring their own spinning top that they have brought from home. First a single player strikes a spinning top into the middle of the arena. Then the second player does the same. The second player must attempt to have their spinning top hit the first spinning top in such a way that it goes flying out of bounds.  “The rules are simple, if the spinning top goes out of the lines, the player automatically loses. Otherwise, the winners are determined by whose top spins for the longest time,” he said.
During the recent Twin Lakes Festival, the spinning top group from Munduk village won first prize the second prize went to the group from Gobleg village, and the place winner was the Gesing village group. All the winners received prizes from the committee in the form of cash, certificates and trophies.www.bali-travelnews.com
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