In Reply to: cockfights posted by troy14 on Monday, 24. January 2005 at 16:13 Bali Time:
I saw cockfigthing at the Besakih Temple (July 04). Asked why it was accepted at the "mother temple" of all places the response was that this all a part of Hindu religion of balancing "good versus bad". Too much good isn't a good thing we need balance so we will tolerate the "bad" - like cockfighting and gambling. Similarly we saw gambling outside the place during the preparation for the recent cremation at Ubud - same response!
Interestingly the "prize" for the owner of the winning cock is he takes home the defeated/dead cock. Sometimes you'll see the cocks in their cage on the side of the road. This is to get the cock accustomed to the noise that will ocurr when the fight takes place.