Bali Perang Pandan is specific to Tenganan village only. The word " perang pandan" is a two words noun in Indonesian language, This war dance in Tenganan village is called " makare-karean " This event is carried out during the ceremony of the temple called " Ngusaba " It is strange because this kind of ceremony is also known by the rest of Balinese, especially those living on lowland with rice irrigation system called " Ngusaba Nini " The basic idea of this ceremony is to request a good rice harvest. At lowland area this ceremony is not a regular one, but it is decided by the village elders with ritual leaders in a plenary meeting. It is a very unique celebration to behold, and this war dance tradition can only be seen in the oldest traditional village in Bali, namely Tenganan village, using weapons in the form of thorny pandan leaves and round shields of rattan, they fight and rub pandan thorns against the enemy's body. A very phenomenal and spectacular Bali Tenganan Perang Pandan tradition to watch
All you need to know about Perang Pandan Tengana
The location of the Perang Pandan or War Dance is located in Tenganan village, Karangasem district, located in a village that still carries a very unique traditional and is classified as the oldest village in Bali and is often referred to as Bali Aga, if you want to go to the pandanus war location those in Tenganan village can use our transportation services, namely Private Hire Car and Driver with relatively cheap prices and satisfying service. But for this war dance or perang pandan is not held every day, but is held once a year and the date is determined based on the Balinese calendar, which is 35 days in a month. The location of perang pandan or war dance at tenganan villagw which is about 2 hours away if you depart from the Kuta area and about 1 hour 30 if you depart from Ubud, with the help of Google Maps you will easily find the location of this Tenganan village which is the location of a very sensational war of views show
The villagers of Tenganan previously believed in the Hindu religion of Indra, and placed the god Indra as the highest god who did not distinguish between caste, and the village of Tenganan was believed to be a gift from the god Indra. this is based on a mythological story circulating where the Tenganan area was ruled by a cruel king named Maya Denawa who considered himself a god and forbade his people to pray to temples and told his people to worship him as a god. This made the gods angry and sent the god Indra to fight Maya Denawa and a fierce battle ensued between Mayadenawa and Dewa Indra which was finally won by Dewa Indra and the day of the war is now commemorated with the Pandan War ceremony because of Dewa Indra's status as the god of war. Since then this pandanus war ceremony has been carried out to remember the history of the village of Tenganan long ago. A war show that is very exciting to watch which is followed by the younger generation from this Tenganan village, a very memorable and rare moment to be able to see the uniqueness of the pandanus war show which is phenomenally beautiful.
Perang Pandan is a regular ceremony based on Çaka year calendar and is organized in the village temple. Tenganan is specific, and " Ngusaba " is belong to a mid-Balinese vocabulary ( ca. 14 to 16 century A.D.), an era when the Majapahit influence was becoming intensive. Çaka year is a lunar calendar created 78 years after Christian Era ( 78 Anno Domini ). Since this ceremony is based on Çaka year and Hindu-Java calendar, so it is hardly able to know the exact International Calendar date within which this ceremony will fall. We can only know the exact date around 6 months ahead of the date. While Hindu-Java calendar is consist of 210 days. Balinese use these two systems at the same time, and mixed it up. So you can find a ceremony coming every 210 days, and every 365 days. So if you want to know for sure when it will be held, maybe you can contact us close, we will find out when exactly this pandan war takes place, because the calendar is different from the normal calendar, so it is very difficult to determine when this pandan war or war dance event will take place
Despite the fact that Bali Aga village has their uniqueness, but in common they share almost the same way of thinking. They consider religion, customs, arts, architecture, economy and other cultural aspects as the same entity and are involved in each of their creation and work. For example is the dance. Dance is considered as a ritual requirement, an amusement, and medium of education. While dance can be a performance from any kind of art, such as the idea of woman beauty, the warrior strength, prime minister wisdom, up to the animal behavior which interests the artist to imitate, and translate it into dance. No one doubt that Perang Pandan originally was a war dance or practice of self-defense which is also introduced by the rest of the world's ethnics in its different form and fashion. The only thing in Bali is that almost all dances are considered as the requirement of a ritual. This pandanus war is more of a war dance form, because the participants carry pandanus weapons and rub against their enemies' backs, so it's more of a fighting show which is a very unique tradition from Tenganan village which is the oldest village on the island of Bali.
Perang Pandan
Medicine
Megibung
For makare-karean or perang pandan there is no rule of fighting, except the dance is given more to younger generation. The term " fighters " may more appropriate name to designate perang pandan instead of a dancer. The fighters bring in hand sharp edged pandanus leaves, while the other hand holds bamboo or rattan woven body shield to protect the body from the provocation of opponent. One person acts only as a referee. The fight resulted the scratch on the skin by thorny pandanus leaves and caused the bleeding. No one is safe from the scratch of the pandanus leaves after the fighting, the only smaller or wider scratches. After the fighting the ritual leader gives the scratch an oil made from herbal medicine, and spread holy water to the fighters. No heart feeling among fighters, and they all sit together to have meals on banana leaves. In this pandanus war, you should not hold grudges, because this pandanus war is a tradition that will strengthen the sense of togetherness between fellow residents in the village which will make the village very harmonious, a tradition that is very unique and has been preserved until now.
Before starting the pandan war ceremony, there will be several ceremonies carried out first, where participants will go around the village as a form of requesting salvation to the gods, after they finish circling the village and continue with the ritual of drinking tuak together, tuak is a type of Balinese alcoholic drink that is collected together and dumped next to the stage. And the participants will get ready by sitting around the arena, and the village officials who are the committee here will give the signal to start the war. This pandanus war begins with a number of two people in the arena who will take thorny pandanus weapons and round shields from rattan and dance while hitting their enemies with prickly pandanus and sometimes they rub each other's weapons on their backs, this fight is about a minute or two, and take turns with other participants. And this pandanus war sometimes often causes blood on the back and even though it is bloody the participants look very happy because this is an expression of their gratitude and a way of honoring the god of the senses. After the war is over, the injured participants are smeared with traditional ingredients made of turmeric, and then they will pray at the temple, even though the participants are injured and bleeding, they will not hold grudges against other participants, because this is a sacred tradition that should not be held grudges. After that, it was followed by a joint meal where the participants would eat together in one big plate, this tradition was eaten with the megibung tradition with the aim of further strengthening the sense of brotherhood among the participants.
The clothes from the pandanus war used are derived from a very famous traditional craft in Tenganan, namely the Pegringsingan ikat weaving, where the participants who take part will use a sarong made of Pegringsingan ikat weaving which is the hallmark of the Tenganan village. In addition, using udeng, which is a headband worn on the head that reflects the characteristics of Bali, and here participants do not wear clothes or bare chest, only the bottom part is wearing a sarong tied with a scarf. And here the participants when doing the fight will not use footwear. A tradition that is very unique and preserves the culture and customs of Tenganan village which is the oldest village on the island of Bali. If you are interested in buying pegringsingan woven fabric, you can buy it in Tenganan village, because pegringsingan tegenungan fabric comes from Tenganan village and ensures its authenticity. using a double tie which requires a long manufacturing process and also by using natural coloring that uses natural ingredients
