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ixteen cows were primped with colorful and glittering crowns and neck straps before being judged in a contest held as part of the Tumpek Kandang celebration on Saturday.

During the Tumpek Kandang, which falls once every 210 days, the Balinese organize special rituals to honor domesticated animals. Balinese Hinduism also has special rituals to honor trees, gamelan musical ensembles, shadow puppets and weapons.

Brought by nine stockbreeding groups from Denpasar, the cows were herded from their cages to the paddy fields where judges from the city husbandry agency assessed them.

In the Balinese cow contest held in the Kertalangu cultural village, some five kilometers east of downtown Denpasar, the judges assessed the animals based on physical criteria, including skin color, size and the shape of their head and horns.

"Male cows, for instance, should have black skin, a black-tipped tail, a black horn and a compact neck and chest. Their bodies should be in good proportion," said the agency head I Dewa Made Ngurah.

Four of the 16 cows were aged below one year, four were male, four were female, while the remaining four were older cows. The competition was held based on those categories.

The contest is aimed at providing stockbreeders with better knowledge about the quality of different breeds in order to improve the cow population in Denpasar.

"Stock breeders should be able to improve their self-reliance and cope with the latest technology so they can get more benefits and have better livelihoods," said Ngurah.

He said the celebration was also aimed at strengthening local knowledge about taking care of livestock as part of their livelihood.

The celebration of Tumpek Kandeng is dedicated to Sang Hyang Rare Angon, the god of cattle and livestock.

On this day, Balinese show their appreciation for all domesticated animals that help them in their everyday life by presenting special offerings and prayers to the God. Holy water and rice are sprinkled on the head of these animals at the end of the ceremony.

Tumpek Kandang, also known as Tumpek Andang, falls exactly on the day of Saniscara Kliwon Wuku Uye according to the Balinese calendar, which combines calculations of lunar and solar calendars with the indigenous, local calendar Pawukon and Wewaran. Lunar and solar calendars are based on the movement of celestial bodies whereas Pawukon and Wewaran are based on a fixed, cyclical pattern.

The name Tumpek Kandang is derived from two words, "Tumpek" that means Saturday and "Kandang", the Balinese word for cage, symbolizing domesticated animals honored by Balinese Hindus, especially cows, pigs, chickens, ducks, dogs and birds.

During this celebration, the animals are given great attention; the cows are washed in the river and are dressed up with a special cone-shaped spiral made out of coconut leaf that is placed on their horns. The pigs have their bellies wrapped with a white or yellow cloth. They are also fed with the best food.