PASOLA

According to local stories, this unique tradition was born from a love story widow beautiful girl named Wednesday Kaba. Before receiving a widow, Wednesday Kaba was the lawful wife of Umbu Dula, one of three brothers Waiwuang civic leader. Two other brothers named Ngongo Tau Masusu and Yagi Waikareri. The siblings then said goodbye to the citizens Waiwuang to go to sea. However, it turns out they went to the area south of East Sumba Coast to take rice. After so long, it turns out the three brothers never return. Residents look for their tracks but could not find it. Finally, the residents agreed to hold mourning ceremonies and considers the three brothers had died.

Long story short, the beautiful widow of the late wife of Umbu Dulla then a love with TEDA Gaiparona, a handsome young man from the village of Kodi. However, due to customs regulations do not require their romance, this couple then do elope. Beautiful widow was also carried off by TEDA Gaiparona to Kampung Kodi. Shortly after the incident elope, three brothers Ngongo Tau Masusu, Yagi Waikareri, and Umbu Dula returned to Kampung Waiwuang, and found the news that Wednesday Kaba had been carried away by TEDA Gaiparona.

Dispute became inevitable. Three siblings together all citizens Waiwuang hold Teda Gaiparona for running Wednesday Kaba. Finally an agreement was born, namely Teda Gaiparona should replace belis (dowry) received by the beautiful widow of family Umbu Dulla. Afterwards customary marriage can be implemented. After the marriage, TEDA Gaiparona advised that citizens carry out Pasola. In this way, it is expected the revenge of the village can be removed with a war game and agility contest javelin throw on horseback.

Implementation Pasola themselves are actually part of the ritual of trust Marapu (local religious communities Sumba). Marapu in confidence, the most important element is the harmony between man and his ancestors. Therefore, the ancestral spirits is what will bring fertility and prosperity. Well, the game Pasola usually held as the culmination of Indigenous Nyale Party, the traditional ceremony for the blessing of the gods and the ancestors that the year’s harvest is successful.

Pasola implementation time very dependent on the count of indigenous elders (Rato) who interpret the signs of nature, including the circulation of the month. Calculation of this Rato said to never miss. The proof, every day of Pasola, on the waterfront there is usually a lot nyale (marine worms) mark the beginning of the game Pasola. In the Gregorian calendar, Pasola held between February and March in several places in West Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara.

In the game challenging and dangerous, look directly two groups ‘Kestaria Sumba’ were face to face, then rode as mercurial and occasionally melesatkan javelin towards the opponent. Not only adept at riding and javelin throw, the participant is also very agile Pasola avoid the brunt of sticks thrown by the opponent. Hooves roaring out in the field, the horses whinny voice and fierce cries of his rider with natural music that accompanies the game. Not to mention the audience cries of women who cheer the heroes they are on the battlefield. That was the atmosphere tense and challenging game Pasola.

In this game, the participants have prepared a special wooden stick over 1.5 meters with a diameter of 1.5 centimeters. Although the rod is left blunt, often injuring the participants of this game, even casualties. The flow of blood in the arena Pasola considered beneficial for soil fertility and crop success. While if there are casualties, the victims were considered to be punishment from the gods for having committed an offense. The participants were exposed to the javelin-if possible-can reciprocate in this arena. But if the game was over, while participants are still curious to avenge the brunt of sticks opponent, then he should be patient to wait Pasola the following year. Because, in Pasola not justified to hold a grudge, let alone retaliate outside the arena Pasola.

Implementation Pasola not only is the game that is corporeal (profane), but also represents the observance of the faiths Marapu in implementing the customs of his ancestors. Therefore is sacred, then prior to the implementation of indigenous elders Pasola doing meditation and lakutapa (fasting) to invoke the blessings of goodness to the ancestors and the gods.

In addition to having a sacred value, functionally Pasola can also be seen as a unifying element in society Sumba. As the story of the origin of Pasola, namely to eliminate the rancor between Kampung Waiwuang and Kodi, then Pasola until now has been the scene silaturrahmi and brotherhood among citizens. During the break, for example, that when entered the lunch hour, the participants and spectators will be merged into one to enjoy the specialties of Pasola, namely diamond. In short, citizens between the two camps ‘war’ in Pasola equally invited to laugh and be merry together while watching the dexterity of the horsemen.

Pasola Games held in four villages in West Sumba. The four villages include Kampung Kodi, Lamboya Kampung, Kampung Wanokaka, and Gaura village, West Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. Implementation Pasola in four villages was done in turns, between the months of February and March each year (to coincide with the traditional ceremony Nyale).

Access to this area is to the West Sumba district located on the island of Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara. On this island there are four districts, among others, West Sumba, Southwest Sumba Regency, Central Sumba districts, and the districts of East Sumba. To reach the island of Sumba, tourists can memafaatkan Mauhau flights to the airport, Kota Waingapu, East Sumba regency capital from various major cities in Indonesia.

In this city there is also a sea port that serves voyage from the island of Sumbawa, Flores, and Timor Island with cruise ship services Pelni. From the city of Waingapu, travelers can take advantage of public transportation such as buses or hire the services of travel to get to the location Pasola in West Sumba.

Implementation Pasola themselves are actually part of the ritual of trust Marapu (local religious communities Sumba). , In the belief Marapu, the most important element is the harmony between man and his ancestors. Therefore, the ancestral spirits is what will bring fertility and prosperity. Well, the game Pasola usually held as the culmination of Indigenous Nyale Party, the traditional ceremony for the blessing of the gods and the ancestors that the year’s harvest is successful.

Pasola implementation time very dependent on the count of indigenous elders (Rato) who interpret the signs of nature, including the circulation of the month. Calculation of this Rato said to never miss. The proof, every day of Pasola, on the waterfront there is usually a lot nyale (marine worms) mark the beginning of the game Pasola. In the Gregorian calendar, Pasola held between February and March in several places in West Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara.