BANANA WAR CEREMONY AT BALI

BANANA WAR CEREMONY AT BALI
Interest among tourists visiting Bali is not only the natural beauty are indeed able to anesthetize the eye of each beholder, but also intended for a variety of performance art and tradition.
The Balinese are known to have a high sense of the artistry coupled with obedience in carrying out various commands and cultural norms and religiosity adds to the surge in the development of the arts and traditions of this island. The impact of it all is that the Balinese people are known to have many nuanced religious ceremony is thick and has run for generations.

 And one of the rite is quite famous for its uniqueness ceremony Banana War also called Biu Mesabatan which usually takes place in an old tourist village the village of Tenganan . Maybe not unthinkable to mind how could you why banana is a fruit that is actually good to eat, in Bali instead used for weapons of war.
It happens because it’s natural philosophy and the history of the war itself is only known in depth by the Balinese people, especially those living in the Cultural Village Tenganan.
The purpose of this ceremony itself is in order to select a chairman and deputy chairman of the youth group in the village. If in other areas may be to choose a chairman and vice-chairman of the youth organization but by a different mechanism.
If the election as chairman of the youth organization prevalent in some areas of the country with the election mechanism or deliberation . Unlike the election of the chairman of the youth in the village of Tenganan are more prefer to use a banana war is the mechanism which is intended to test at the same mental discipline candidates who participated in the election.
The procession of Banana Wars ceremony was held along with other rites in the third calendar Tenganan or often called Aci Katiga. All the villagers agreed that the youth are the future generation village that has a very vital role associated with the forward and pullback Tenganan forward.
So to get a credible leader and strong physically and mentally then determination by the Banana War Ceremony. The youth leaders who will be involved in this war are required to advance the banana fruit picking.
The ceremony is usually followed by about 16 youths selected villages to be contrasted with the two young candidates youth chairman and vice chairman. Overall youth set by the Kelian will then gather in a place, at the end of the village, he immediately changed clothes.
All the clothes and accessories that had been imposed should be opened and replaced with the traditional clothes and headdress cloth Kamben called udeng. And they are not allowed to use aliases only shirt shirtless. The 16 youths will be contrasted with the two candidates for chairman and vice- chairman of the village predetermined.
All 16 villages would be opposed to the two young men who will hold the reins of chairman and vice- chairman of the village of Tenganan. Both of these young men are usually already standing on the road opposite the 16th young man.
Then the whole people are watching this unique rites will then be asked to come together and forming a line along the path that will be used by both the youth. The atmosphere will necessarily be festive and lively as the sound of traditional Balinese gamelan sounded as a sign that the war is about to begin.
And the main event was about to begin. Dozens of youths set by Kelian to be a rival of the two young men would rush toward Pura Bale Agung at a rapid pace which half run. But only half the journey, Banana War had already begun.
Both candidates youth chairman and vice chairman also became the main target of attack by dozens of youths of the village were selected. The attack was part of a mandatory rule that must be executed to test the candidate’s physical and mental village youth leader.
So usually two village youths and even then will continue to be attacked by a banana that has brought dozens of young men who became the opponent of the candidate. Both youth and even then often face bruised, her skin flushed and there are a lot of injuries, however, they must still step up and walk up the temple.
When the two young men hurried and even collapsed before reaching the temple which is the terminal of the ceremony it will be considered a failure and incompatibility of the two young men to become leaders. But otherwise, they will be considered successful when his success through various kinds of attacks and threats of physical and mental youths who elected them.
Well, this ceremony is said to be ended when the two young men arrived at the gate of Pura Bale Agung. So when they made it through the gates of the temple will be immediately passed and are entitled to the inaugural chairman and vice- chairman of the youth village of Tenganan.
Uniquely committed war turned out not to cause resentment among fellow youth who had been attacked by two young men without mercy because they realized that it was done only to run rite alone. To reduce anger or resentment, especially from the two former youth to his opponent, the ceremony usually ends with Megibung or meal together followed by all the villagers.
So this is part of the ceremonial rites conducted by all the people of Bali are interesting to watch. So many tourists who witnessed the ceremony even perpetuating war Bananas are considered unique and rare.
Location
Banana war held in the village of Tenganan Daud Tukad, Manggis district, Karangasem regency, Bali – Indonesia. Located about 60 km to the east of Denpasar, or can be reached by the time approximately 2 hours using a motor vehicle.