Pasola Festival 2010: Sumbanese Ritual Horse Spear Battle in Lamboya, West Sumba
On February 6, 2010, in the rugged hills of Lamboya, West Sumba, the air was thick with anticipation and ancient tradition. The annual Pasola festival had begun — a ritual war game deeply rooted in the Sumbanese culture, where two groups of men mounted on swift horses prepared to engage in a fierce yet sacred contest.
Clad in vibrant traditional attire, each rider held a wooden spear, their faces set with determination and respect for the centuries-old ceremony they were about to enact. This was no mere sport; Pasola was a ritual infused with spiritual significance, believed to bring harmony and prosperity to the coming rice harvest.
As the drums and chants echoed across the grassy plains, the riders galloped forward, their horses thundering over the earth like wild storms. Spears were hurled through the air with precision, not just as weapons but as symbols of courage, skill, and the unbreakable bond between the men and their trusted steeds.
The clash of spears and the rhythm of hooves resonated as a vivid display of strength and unity, connecting the present generation with the legacy of their ancestors. Each thrust and dodge carried prayers for balance—between humans and nature, between community and tradition.
In Pasola, the spirit of the Sumbanese people galloped freely, weaving a living story of heritage, bravery, and reverence that would echo through the hills long after the festival’s dust had settled.
Sumbanese men carrying wooden spears ride their horses during a ritual war festival called Pasola in Lamboya, West Sumbawa February 6, 2010. During the annual festival, two groups of Sumbanese men ride their horses and fling wooden spears at each other. (REUTERS/Murdani Usman)
