Tomato War: A Tradition of Casting Out Negative Energy and Sowing New Hope

Residents pelted each other with rotten tomatoes during the 2026 Tomato War Festival in Cikareumbi Village, Lembang, West Bandung Regency, West Java, on Friday (26/6/2026). The ‘rempug tarung’ tomato war tradition, involving the mutual throwing of rotten tomatoes, is a symbolic expression of discarding bad things, negative energy, and corruption of the heart, as well as a hope for a better life and agriculture. The annual event uses rotten tomatoes as a symbol of casting away bad human traits, while also forming part of the process of turning tomato waste into organic fertiliser through a cultural arts display. Participants, including ‘tomato warriors’ dressed in knight costumes, joined a cultural parade as part of the festival.