Taro Village has a uniqueness that is not owned by other villages across Bali. It has
population of white cows considered sacred. The community of Taro Village especially residents of Taro Kaja
Customary Village strongly believe in the sanctity of the animal. Even, they do not dare to look after or slaughter this sacred animal. No one dare to look after the white cow individually. If there is a white cow born among their cattle, when reaching the age of six (6) months it must be submitted to the village to further take care.
Today, the existence of a white cow at Taro Village has reached 50. In their daily life, community members are assigned in rotation to teed the cows. These cows are essentially given special treatment and so are the descendants of the white cows, although they were born in another color. In addition to be purified, the white cows are also used as a complementary element (witness) of the ceremony in Bali known as Ngasti and other ceremony of the similar level.
The white cow is brought to location of ceremony and the organizers then lead it around the area or place of ceremony thrice. This ceremony is called Purwa Daksina. To be able to use the white cow, the authority of customary village will charge a rental cost. For a one-time ceremony, whether it is far away or near the village will charge a rental fee of approximately DR 600,000 with 15 companions. Indeed, the number of companions is quite a lot that is intended to prevent any inconvenient causes.
