Pa' Raga "Sport n Martial"

Did you know that the ancestors of takraw is sports football? This is a unique game that combines elements of Makassar and martial skill. Attractions raga still played by the youth in Makassar to the present.

The similarity with the sepak takraw sports are equally rattan ball and play with his feet. But pa'raga demonstrate extraordinary attractions, not just kicking the ball to fall into the opponent as in takraw.

The players called pa'raga body. Usually they are well-trained young men. Wearing traditional costume consisting of passapu (typical headgear triangular berbetuk Makassar), clothes cover (traditional jacket), and Lipa sabbe (Makassar typical sarong made of silk fabric), this young man start the atracsion.

Pa'raga consists of three to six people. The game starts with the ball at each other from foot to foot. Then, they set up in formation in which one of them up and rests on the shoulders of other players. Formation over time the higher up into two and even three stacks.

The ball passed from the bottom up through the one player to another player. Of course still with the foot. Until the end player in the formation of stacking the top attractions that keep playing kick-kick the ball at his feet. Stunt these young people are often invited clicking sound impressed.

Before developing the sport sepak takraw, ma'raga (do bodily movement) are the movements of martial arts. Sports games came from a village called Ujungbulo which lies outside the city of Makassar.

Initially, these movements only normal movement without the accompaniment of drums, gongs, and the traditional horn. Kingdom of Gowa who entered the music elements in that game pa'raga attraction is not just a regular attraction becomes an attraction, but that has aesthetics.

During the penetration of Islam in the Sultanate of Gowa, pa'raga became effective media to spread the religion among the people. Until now the Islamic nuances in this game was still strong. Players pa'raga always pronounce sentence at La ilaha illallah when they do their action

Delegation of South Sulawesi art almost always bring these players in any sport performances abroad. In Makassar, attractions raga can be seen during a ceremony welcoming guests or at Losari Festival held every October.