Sepak Sawut

By Mely Azini Prastika

source: fairyna.wordpress.com

Sepak sawut is one of traditional game in Indonesia derived from Central Kalimantan. Once upon a time, this game is series of traditional ritual, played during the opening of shifting cultivation / while waiting for the corpse (for Kaharingan people). But nowadays, people played this game as a routine activities when the people in Central Kalimantan celebrate the birthday of their regency or province.
Actually when we look at how to play this game and the tools of this game is really terrible, because this game played with fireball, to play this game we need to have a group that consist of eleven people, and the other group as a opponent. This game actually is the same when we played football, but the differentiate there is at the ball, Sepak Sawut used fireball. Usually the ball made by the chunks of old coconut belt that has been dried by first chunk of the water is removed and soaked using kerosene. The goal that the oil soak into the fibers of the coconut balls. And better when we played this game at night. This game also as a reflection of characteristics of indonesian people, especially people in Central Kalimantan love to work together, so this game has a good value. even though this game rare we met in Kalimantan any more, at least we know that Sepak Sawut is one of traditional game in Indonesia and we have to save it. Because this game is the part of our culture.