Pasola is a thanks giving ceremony to the ancestral spirit of people from Sumba Island – East Nusa Tenggara. This is a most exciting Jousting Festival where more than 50 men riding horses which divided into two groups – from upper and lower villages. Before they start, the Rato (Traditional priest leader) prays in between two groups, then he throws a spear to start the game. Immidiately followed by those horse riders race their horses and throw their spears toward the opponent over and over. fallen men or horses may not be attacked, but any blood flowing is believed to fertilize the soil and benefit the next harvest. This is a blood sacrifice…! You never find it elsewhere in the world.

The tournament forms part of the traditional Marapu belief on Sumba, where the Pasola forms an inseparable part of the annual ritual, held in conjunction with the Bau Nyale ritual or the arrival of seaworms on the shores of Sumba, which normally occurs in February and March. This, this Pasola Ceremony happen only once a year (FEBRUARY and MARCH) and date could not be predicted in advance, it is always not in the same date every year. It depends on RATO’s decision which is announced two or three weeks before. Please stay in touch with us.

The island of Sumba has been well known as a trading island for many years with sandalwood, horse, impressive megalithic tombs and the Ikat hand woven clothes that are still made in the traditional fashion today. Sumba also has fantastic perfect beaches and plenty of experiences that are both cultural and physical such as the mountains and volcanoes.