LOMBOK EVENTS

Bau Nyale Festival
Perhaps the most famous ritual of Lombok is the Bau Nyale festival which takes place each year on the southern beaches of Central Lombok (Kuta Beach or Selong Belanak Beach) when the moon, wind and tide come together at a particular conjunction and thousands upon thousands of sea - worms (the Nyales or small eels) of many different colors are washed ashore. A local priest, scooping up a handful of worms, 'reads the worms' thereby telling the the community their fortunes for the coming year.

Once the future is told, the the people collect the worms for a special annual feast. And with the feast is a festival where boys and girls meet and there's plenty of music and dancing.

Gendang Beleq Festival
Lombok's answer to marching band, Gendang Beleg performs with big drums, traditional percussion instruments and traditional bamboo flutes. Most villages have a Gendang Beleg troupe and once a year the groups gather for a competition and festival. Check with your hotel concierge to learn when the next Gendang Beleg Festival will be held.

Peraja Sepaer
Peraja Sepaer is a traditional festival celebrating the coming of age for young boys. On this day, boys are hoisted up into a palanquin (a covered box on two long poles and carried by 2-4 men) decorated to resemble a flying tiger or sometimes in the guise of modern vehicle such as a car or airplane and paraded through the village celebrating the boy's circumcision.

Peraja Nyongkolang
Nyongkolang is a traditional procession to celebrate a young couple's wedding day. In this procession, the bride and groom are carried in a palanquin decorated with imaginary flying animals - lions, tigers and the like. From time to time you may see one of these processions when you are out on a tour around Lombok. As well the Nyongkolang procession is occasionally performed for the public - in such cases your hotel concierge will have information for the date and time.

Independence Day
Indonesia's Independence Day, 17 August, is always a day full of festivals all over the nation and Lombok is no exception. Games like pole climbing are very competitive and a lot of fun to watch. As well some villages use the day to hold cultural activities, special dance performances and bazaars. Check with your hotel staff for interesting ideas.

English Speech Competition
Date: 12-13 August
Venue: Narmada
Part of the lead up to Indonesia Independence Day, this competition is designed to encourage students and the younger generation to speak English. Tourists and western visitors are welcome.

Painting Competition
Date: 13 August
Venue: Narmada
Also part of the Indonesia Independence Day celebrations, this competition is open to all ages, including children, and is designed to develop art appreciation. All are welcome.

Stick Fighting Competition
Date: 13 August
Venue: Senggigi
Peresean, or stick fighting, is an exciting tradition that demonstrates masculinity and heroism amongst Sasak men. Contenders fight each other using solid sticks and try to fend off blows with shields made of toughened leather. It's and exciting demonstration of ferocity and skill; with a referee on hand to make sure things don't get too heated.

Traditional Horse Cart Competition
Date: 25-27 August
Venue: Lingkar Selatan
The traditional horse cart, of cidomo, is very much in use in Lombok as part of daily life. The horse cart competition in Lombok is similar to horse shows held in the West, where the competition depends on the skill and presentation of both horse and rider. In this competition, the carts are colourfully decorated and points are awarded for dressage and equipment.

Lebaran Topat
Date: 31 October
Venue: Senggigi
Topat is an important cultural event for Lombok's Moslems. Held on the seventh day after Idul Fitri, family and friends gather to pray together fo happiness and prosperity. Afterwards they celebrate together by eating traditional "Topat", rice wrapped in parcels of plaited coconut leaves and boiled, along with a variety of side dishes. The beach just south of Senggigi is a popular place for picnics and people from all around the island will come to celebrate there.

Mulang Pekelem, Mt Rinjani
Date: 5 November
Venue: Senaru
Pekelem is a tradition practiced by the many Balinese Hindus living in Lombok since ancient times until now. Every year on the full moon in either October or November, thousands of people will make the pilgrimage to lake Segara Anak, in Mt Rinjani's crater, to throw offerings of gold and other precious symbols into the waters as an expression of gratitude to God and to ask for his blessing. Pilgrims from all over Lombok and Bali will gather at Senaru to make the trek up the mountain for this holy event.

Perang Topat
Date: 5 December
Venue: Lingsar
This ceremony is usually held every year at the time of the sixth full moon in the Sasak calendar (either November or December). Both Balinese Hindus and Sasaks come to Lingsar to pray for good crops, rain and fertility, before engaging in a mock war with each other. The actual "war" involves participants throwing "topat", parcels of rice wrapped in woven coconut leaves and boiled at each other, amid much good fun and frivolity.