Thousands Engage in Tomato War in Lembang, a Tradition to Banish Negative Energy and Sow New Hope

Thousands of residents in Cikareumbi Hamlet, Cikidang Village, Lembang District, West Bandung Regency, West Java, pelted each other with tomatoes on Friday (26/6/2026). Tomatoes flew through the air, hitting heads, faces, and bodies. However, the mutual tomato throwing was carried out without anger or resentment. This is because the activity marked the return of the ‘Tomato War Festival’ tradition, which had been dormant for six years. Carrying the theme ‘Rempug Tarung Adu Tomat’, the festival’s return was enthusiastically welcomed by residents and visitors alike. The tomato war began when a dozen men, equipped with chest protectors and bamboo masks covering their faces, entered the arena. They held shields in their left hands and striking tools in their right. These ‘tomato warriors’ then followed the rhythm of seven dancers carrying winnowing trays. Before being worn by the warriors, the masks and shields were held by the dancers and symbolically handed over during a traditional dance prelude to the battle. Shortly after, the warriors signalled the start of the tomato war. Thousands of residents then began throwing tomatoes provided by the organising committee at one another. ‘Alhamdulillah, after a six-year vacuum since the last one in 2019, it is back now. The feeling is also different, perhaps because we missed it, so this event is now highly anticipated,’ said the chief organiser of Rempug Tarung Adu Tomat, Acep Unan.