Bloody village initation for boys<\/p>\n
Jagadhita, Contributor, Denpasar<\/p>\n
In the secluded Aga community, believed to be the first group
\nthat inhabited the paradise island of Bali, boys shed their blood
\nin a Perang Pandan (pandan duel) before they are socially
\nacknowledged as adults.<\/p>\n
Each boy of the traditional village of Tenganan Pegringsingan
\nin Karangasem regency -- about 85 kilometers away from Denpasar
\n-- must go through this initiation ritual, locally known as
\nmakare-karean, where they are not only required to demonstrate
\ntheir strength, but also their mercy.<\/p>\n
The ritual takes place in June of each year, as part of the
\nsacred Usaba Sambah festival held in the Bale Agung or village
\nhall.<\/p>\n
A fighter is armed with a thorny pandan leaf, about 30 to 40
\ncentimeters long, in one hand and a shield made of woven dried
\npandan leaves in the other. A referee is appointed to oversee the
\nduel, which is accompanied by the enticing sound of selundeng,
\nBalinese iron gamelan.<\/p>\n
The adolescents usually drink tuak (a traditional alcoholic
\nbeverage made of coconut juice) to boost their spirits before the
\nduel.<\/p>\n
Each fighter is given only one chance to strike. Those who
\nbreak the rule are required to hand over a fine of two-and-a-half
\nkilograms of rice.<\/p>\n
The event commences with a series of duels between boys who
\nare at least seven years old.<\/p>\n
After these duels are over, bare-chested teenagers present
\nthemselves to the cheering crowd. The ritual is a momentous phase
\nin each boy's life and marks their transition to adulthood.<\/p>\n
Two teenagers fiercely fight each other with pandan leaves and
\nshields until one falls to the ground. The back and other parts
\nof the body would usually be bleeding by this time.<\/p>\n
Wayan Suena, a teenager who has fought five times in a pandan
\nduel, said he loves to fight despite the pain.<\/p>\n
"I feel something magical that elevates my spirit and inspires
\nme to join the fight," he said.<\/p>\n
A cultural observer, I Gede Parimartha, said that the
\ntradition of the pandan duel dates back to the golden age of the
\npowerful Majapahit Kingdom of Java -- between 1294 and 1520. The
\nHindu kingdom is believed to have successfully conquered almost
\nall the territories under modern Indonesia and some parts of
\nSoutheast Asia.<\/p>\n
At that time, the ruler of the Majapahit kingdom ordered the
\nruler of the Gelgel Klungkung kingdom to breed cocks for cock-
\nfighting.<\/p>\n
But Mangku Dukuh from Gelgel Klungkung kingdom refused to heed
\nthe order, and a battle broke out. To prepare for the battle,
\nyoung men of the Gelgel Klungkung kingdom used thorny pandan
\nleaves to fight.<\/p>\n
"Witnesses of the duel saw that blood flowed from the wounds
\nof the young people of Tenganan; thus (symbolically) they had
\nbecome young adults," Parimartha said.<\/p>\n
Although their bodies are splattered with blood, the boys are
\nproud as they consider that they have made a sacrifice to the
\ngods.<\/p>\n
The fighters also hope to learn how to survive the challenges
\nof life through the duels.<\/p>\n
However, the boys do not hold grudges over the wounds
\ninflicted during the initiation ritual.<\/p>\n
Instead, they help each other to treat the wounds with a
\ntraditional remedy made of kunir (turmeric), kencur (or lesser
\ngalangal, a brown aromatic rhizome of the ginger family ),
\nlengkuas (or galangal, also called Siamese ginger), acid liquid,
\nand sandalwood for fragrance. The mixture is usually prepared by
\nthe girls of the community.<\/p>\n
In a spirit of togetherness, the girls also help to treat the
\nwounds in a symbolic gesture of their own transition to
\nadulthood. They hope for a better future and that, as adults,
\nthey will be able to overcome temptation.<\/p>",
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