PASOLA HORSEBACK
FIGHTING FESTIVAL
Pasola
is the name of ancient war ritual war festival by
two groups of selected Sumbanese men. They riding
their colorful decorated selected horses fling
wooden spears at each other. This traditional
ceremony held in the way of uniquely and
sympathetically traditional norms, every year in
February and March.
The festival occurs during February in
Lamboya and Kodi. The main activity starts several days
after the full moon and coincides with the yearly arrival to
the shore of strange, and multihued sea worms – Nyale. The
precise date of the event decided by Rato during the
Wulapodu (the month of Pasola the fasting month).
Pasola is derived from the word Sola or Hola
meaning a kind of a long wooden stick used as a spear to
fling each other by two opponent groups of horsemen. The
horses use for this ritual are usually ridden by braves and
skilled selected men wearing traditional customs. In its
wider and deeper meanings Pasola really not only is
something worth looking on but also is something worth
appreciating, for there are still other elements bound
tightly behind it.
The people of Sumba believe that the ritual
has a very close link to the habit of the people since it
arranges the behavior and the habit of the people so that
the balanced condition between the physical – material needs
and the mental – spiritual needs can be easily created; or
in other words the ritual is believed to be able to
crystallize the habit and the opinion of the people so that
they can live happily both in earth and in heaven. In
addition to it, Pasola is also believed to have close
relation to the activity in agriculture field, therefore any
bloodshed (of sacrificial cattle or men participating in the
game) is considered the symbol of prosperity that must
exist. Without blood Pasola mean nothing to them. Those who
died in the Pasola arena are believed to have broken law of
tradition the fasting month.
Tours to Pasola Festival information at :
www.sumbatours.com
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