BAU NYALE – Lombok’s Unique Festival!

One of Lombok’s most important and popular festivals takes place at the beginning of this month. Bau Nyale is a cultural tradition, deeply rooted in local legend and drama, and unique to the island of Lombok.

Bau Nyale means “to catch the sea worms” in the local Sasak language. The sea worms are a rare variety of Palolo worm (Eunice viridis) found in tropical waters in different parts of the world and particularly in Lombok, Sumba and Savu in Indonesia.

Once a year – when seasonal, marine and lunar conditions combine – the Nyale come to certain beaches around Lombok to spawn and, for a few days, the seas are filled with wriggling sea worms in a variety of colours, ranging from simple brown to red and green.

PERANG TOPAT… The Rice War!

Thousands of people attended Lombok’s unique “Perang Topat” held on Thursday, 4 December at historic Lingsar Temple in West Lombok.

Perang means “war”and Topat is short for “ketupat” – small diamond-shaped parcels of rice, which have been wrapped in woven coconut leaves and boiled – a delicious local alternative to ordinary rice.

In this friendly war, Hindus and Muslims stage a mock battle, hurling the topat at each other amidst much fun and laughter.

Built around 1759 and renovated in 1874, Pura Lingsar is located about 10km northwest of Mataram and is renowned for its unique temple complexes: the Gaduh Temple for Hindus and the Kemaliq Temple for Muslims.

NGAYU-AYU… Preserving the Past

The sun has just risen and pure, clear light floods the mountains and valleys surrounding Sembalun Bumbang, a town perched high on the northeast shoulder of Mt Rinjani, 1,065 meters above sea level.

The normally quiet town is crowded with thousands of visitors today, as people flock from across Indonesia and throughout Lombok to witness an ancient ritual that has been practiced in this village for hundreds of years.

6 June, 2013 marks the final day of the Ngayu-Ayu celebrations that have been held in the village over the past week, and gives those attending a small glimpse into the rich heritage of the Sasak people.

NYEPI IN LOMBOK

You can see Bali in Lombok… but you can’t see Lombok in Bali!

This old Lombok saying is especially true during Nyepi – the Balinese Hindu “Day of Silence” – when you really can see Bali in Lombok!

Many people assume that Balinese Hindus only live in Bali but, with the two islands being so close together, Balinese settlement on Lombok dates back for centuries. Today, Balinese communities and temples are found all around the west coast and in the cities of Lombok. Nyepi is one of the most important days in the Balinese calendar and the start of the Hindu New Year. However, Balinese Hindus do not celebrate the new year with lavish parties; they celebrate it with peace and meditation instead, with the aim of entering a new year with a “clean slate”.

RAMADAN AND IDUL FITRI IN LOMBOK

As we go to print this year, Muslims across the world are fasting for month of Ramadan.

Lombok’s Muslim community too will be abstaining from drinking, smoking, and having sex between sunrise and sunset each day. However, if you are staying in the main tourism areas – Senggigi and the west coast, Kuta and the south coast, and on the three Gili Islands – it’s business as usual.

Hotels and resorts are open for business, restaurants serve meals all day, bars are open and still serve alcohol – and planes, ferries, fast-boats and taxis are all operating as usual!

EASTER SERVICES IN LOMBOK

We are often asked if there are any churches in Lombok, especially around Christmas and Easter when people are holidaying in Lombok and would like to attend church services during their visit.

Although predominantly Muslim, Lombok truly is a melting pot of cultures and different religions including the many Hindus who live here, together with Buddhist, Catholic and Protestant communities.

Easter is coming up, with Good Friday on 18 April and Easter Sunday on 20 April, and churches (‘Gereja’) in Lombok welcome tourists attend.

Good Friday is a public holiday throughout Indonesia and schools, banks and government businesses will be closed.