Mekare-kare Tradition: The pandan Wars of Tenganan Pegringsingan

Witness the lively spectacle of tradition and cultural pride at Tenganan Pegringsingan Cultural Festival 2024. Which will be held on June 5 and 6 in Tenganan Village, Karangasem, Bali. This annual event celebrates the unique customs and heritage of the Tenganan people, culminating in the pandan wars "Mekare-kare".

Mekare-kare is a ceremonial offering to honor ancestors and Dewa Indra, the God of War. The most visible rituals include: Manyunan, where all of the young Daha (young women), dressed head-to-toe in their best Gringsing cloth and other accoutrements, take their seats on age-old ritual swings, which are turned by the Teruna (young men). The swing is symbolic of the cyclical nature of life — these young Tenganan to keep the wheels turning another generation.

And the second is Pandan War, taking place in front of one of the Bale Petemuan pavilions, the stage is set for battle. The young teruna men take their turns to face an opponent with bunched, thorny pandan leaves in one hand and a rattan shield in the other. Then, to the tune of the sacred selonding gamelan, the fights begin. Chaotic scenes as each warrior scrambles and wrestles in an effort to grate the skin of their opponent with the sharp thorns of the pandan.

Discover Balinese culture in the heritage atmosphere. For further details and questions, do not hesitate to contact us, we are ready to guide you on this unforgettable cultural experience!