Sumbawa Barat - The Regent of West Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province, Amar Nurmansyah, stated that the buffalo racing tradition or Barapan Kebo not only plays a role in maintaining the sustainability of regional culture, but also has a positive impact on the movement of the community's economy, including micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
"This activity also starts the official calendar of the buffalo karapan 2026 which is planned to take place continuously in several locations," said Amar Nurmansyah when attending the buffalo karapan event at the Bentiu Buffalo Karapan Stadium, West Sumbawa, Sunday, January 4.
According to him, the buffalo karapan is not merely a racing event, but is part of the cultural identity of the people of West Sumbawa who need to be continuously maintained and developed in a positive way.
"Karapan Kerbau as a cultural heritage that contains the values of sportsmanship, togetherness and local wisdom," he said.
He emphasized that the local government provided full support so that this tradition remains sustainable and is able to provide real economic benefits for the local community.
Amar also emphasized the importance of making the buffalo race as a means of strengthening kinship and unity, not only in the West Sumbawa community, but also between regions and between regencies.
"Through activities like this, everyone meets, greets each other and conveys good news. This is a very valuable social capital," he said.
The implementation of the buffalo karapan in early 2026 is not only considered as a people's entertainment, but also reflects the strong commitment of the people of West Sumbawa in maintaining and passing down the ancestral traditions from generation to generation.
Since this morning, the Bentiu Stadium has been filled with buffalo owners, jockeys, karapan communities, and people who have come from various districts, even from outside the area.
With the holding of the buffalo karapan at the beginning of this year, West Sumbawa again emphasized its commitment to maintaining cultural traditions, strengthening relations between the Sumbawa Regency and West Sumbawa, and encouraging the economic growth of people based on culture and local wisdom.
"The presence of buffalo karapan has proven to be able to move the wheels of the economy of the people, ranging from UMKM actors, traders, to local transportation services," he said.
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