Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Pasola war festival in Sumba Island

Monday 24 March 2014 16:53 GMT

A Pasola rider reacts after throwing his spear during the Pasola war festival at Ratenggaro village in Sumba Island

In pictures: Pasola war festival in Sumba Island

Show all 10

1/10In pictures: Pasola war festival in Sumba Island

In pictures: Pasola war festival in Sumba Island

Indonesia

A Pasola rider reacts after throwing his spear during the Pasola war festival at Ratenggaro village in Sumba Island

In pictures: Pasola war festival in Sumba Island

Indonesia

A sumbanese child riding his horse as attending pasola festival in Ratenggaro village in Sumba Island

In pictures: Pasola war festival in Sumba Island

Indonesia

A Pasola rider throwing his spear during the Pasola war festival at Ratenggaro village in Sumba Island

In pictures: Pasola war festival in Sumba Island

Indonesia

Pasola game is played by the Western Sumbanese to celebrate the rice planting season. Two different groups of men from different clans or tribes throw wooden spears to the opponent while riding a horse. It is a game that requires a high skills and usually turns into a bloody fight. In the Sumbanese ancient beliefs, the spilled blood will fertilize the land and multiply the output of the paddy

In pictures: Pasola war festival in Sumba Island

Indonesia

Sumbanese people perform ritual during the Pasola war festival at Ratenggaro village in Sumba Island

In pictures: Pasola war festival in Sumba Island

Indonesia

A Sumbanese woman shows a bowl of sea worms during Nyale ritual as part of the Pasola war festival at Wainyapu village in Sumba Island

In pictures: Pasola war festival in Sumba Island

Indonesia

Pasola, an ancient ritual fighting game, involves two teams of men on horseback charging towards each other while trying to hit their rivals with 'pasol' javelins and avoid being hit themselves

In pictures: Pasola war festival in Sumba Island

Indonesia

Sumbanese people walks to their village after collect the sea worms during Nyale ritual as part of the Pasola war festival at Wainyapu village in Sumba Island. The Pasola Festival is an important annual event to welcome the new harvest season, which coincides with the arrival of 'Nyale' sea worms during February or March each year

In pictures: Pasola war festival in Sumba Island

Indonesia

Sumbanese men carry a pig as prepare for cook during the Pasola war festival at Ratenggaro village in Sumba Island

In pictures: Pasola war festival in Sumba Island

Indonesia

Sumbanese men prepare pigs for cook during the Pasola war festival at Ratenggaro village in Sumba Island

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies