Mekaré-kare – Pandan War, Tenganan Village
Bali Aga Pandan War ritual
Each year in the Bali Aga village of Tenganan Pegringsingan, the ritual of Mekaré-kare, or Pandan War, honours Dewa Indra, the god of war.
Men and boys engage in ceremonial combat using thorny pandan leaves, drawing blood as an offering to the gods. Surrounded by ancient traditions, sacred textiles, and ritual music, the event is both a dramatic spectacle and a deeply meaningful expression of Bali Aga identity.
These photographs capture moments from the ceremony: the preparations, the battles, the rituals of trance, and the quiet moments of community that follow.
