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The
island of Sumba is well known of its sandlewood, horses,
impressive megalithic tombs, typical hand woven textile ("ikat"),
and still untouched beautiful beaches. There are two entering
point in to Sumba island from anywhere in the Lesser Waingapu
& Waikabubak (Tambolaka). These are the people could enter
Sumba for either by flight or boat.
Waikabubak
A neat little town in West part of Sumba island, full of old
graves carved in motifs of buffalo horns, man heads, horses, nude
men or women symbolizing social status or wealth of the people.
West Sumba is the regency whose capital is Waikabubak. It can be
reached by plane from Kupang via Waingapu and Denpasar via Bima.
In Waikabubak, you can see find the megalithic tombs of Kadung
Tana, Watu Karagata, and Bulu Peka Mila. Tarung Village is an
important ceremonial center, located on hill top west of
Waikabubak.
Anakalang
The village of Anakalang known with the largest megalithic tombs
in Sumba). The tombs are always with the unusual carvings.
Anakalang is the site of the Purung Takadonga Ratu, an important
mass marriage festival held every two years, on a date determined
by the full moon.
Waingapu
Waingapu is the capital city of east Sumba regency, it is known
with the traditional Ikat weaving and some megalithic tombs are
also found on this area.
Rende
Rende village is the sights several traditional style buffalo horn
adorned Sumba houses and a number of massive carved stone graves.
Kaliuda
One of the Ikat weaving center of the area. Here one can see the
high quality traditional Sumba Ikat in process.
Ikat Weaving
Ikat textile in Sumba are worked an exchanged at important
ceremonies to show one's social status. At the funerals, the most
exquisite textiles would be placed in the grave for use in the
after world.
Pasola
Pasola is the name of a war game tournament played by two groups of
selected Sumbanese men. They riding their decorated selected horses
fling wooden spears at each other. (The government allows the ritual
game to take place, but the spears much the blunt). Pasola is a
traditional ceremony of the Sumbanese held in the way of uniquely and
sympathically traditional norms, every year in February and March and
has become the focus of attention of the people since it is a part of
the sacred homoge to the Marapu.
Marapu
Pasola is, above all, the most exciting ritual of Sumba-where
else in the world can you see colorful horsemen trying to kill
each other? Where else in the world can you see the shedding of
blood, the lost of and eye, and occasional death coloring the
event and being the part of the game?. The ceremony occurs
during February in Lamboya and Kodi and during
March in Gaura and Wanukaka. The main activity
starts several days after the full-moon and coincide with the
yearly arrival to the shore of strange, and multihued sea worms
- nyale. The precise date of the event decided by Rato during
the wula podu (the month of pasola the fasting month).
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