A horseman hurls his spear during the Pasola festival in the Wanokaka region of Sumba. The Pasola is an annual event, held in several villages in western Sumba every February and March, in which two teams of horsemen hurl blunted wooden spears at one another. The event is timed to coincide with the arrival of nyale, colorful sea worms, on Sumba’s southern coast approximately 9 days after the full moon. At sunrise, priests wade into the sea to examine the nyale, whose quality and behavior predict the quality of the coming harvest. Shortly afterwards the horse battles begin, first on the beach and than at a field further inland. While the battles have ritual significance—the spilling of blood to ensure a good harvest—they also provide an opportunity for Sumbanese men to prove their bravery and skill. Although they are now required by the government to use blunted spears, serious injury and even death still occur. East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Image: Danzer_031870. To discuss use of this photo, please contact Erick at erick@erickdanzer.com. For more information, please visit Erick's homepage at www.erickdanzer.com. @ Erick Danzer, all rights reserved. |