Mekare-kare

Bali Aga Pandan War ritual
Tenganan Pegringsingan
June 2016
One of the unique traditions of the Bali Aga of Tenganan is Mekaré-kare, or Pandan War, where men fight each other using thorny “pandanus” leaves. This ritual honours Dewa Indra, God of War, and is usually held around June and July each year. Mekaré-kare is the culmination of a month long ceremony Ngusaba Sambah and is organised 2-4 times, accompanied with offerings to the ancestors.