What You Should Know about Lembah Baliem Festival in Papua, Indonesia

At the point when you think about Indonesia, you will undoubtedly think about the lavish greenery and beautiful beaches in Indonesia, beautiful garments and delightful vegetarian foods of Indonesia, interesting dances and energizing music; all things considered, it is a multicultural nation that is wealthy in custom. Consistently, an assortment of festivals in Indonesia is commended, making it an entrancing area for sightseers throughout the entire year.

Lembah Baliem Festival has been held since 1989. The 30 years of cultural exhibitions have accidentally had numerous constructive outcomes on Papua.

The festival is currently a Papuan Tourism Icon according to the world. It is usually held on the 7th until the 10th of August.

The area the festival held takes place is at Jayawijaya Regency, Papua. Speaking of Papua, check out the best things to do in Papua.

It is a monstrous festival where you can find out about the local culture. To give you a better insight into this festival, here is all you need to know about the Lembah Baliem Festival in Papua. 

What You Should Know About Lembah Baliem Festival

1. The Festival Purpose 

The celebration means to present and save the qualities and culture of customary clans and to symbolize the cheerful mood and energy that have been polished for ages.

By going to the gigantic Lembah Baliem Festival, guests will have an uncommon opportunity to learn and encounter firsthand the various customs of every clan taking an interest in the Festival without making the troublesome trek to their mixes somewhere down in the hinterland of West Papua. 

2. Points of Attractions 

Huge attractions, traditional dance (ethai), and the craft of body cosmetics with different frill by Hubula clans, customary cooking attractions (bakar batu), exhibitions of conventional instruments (pikon and witawo), kids’ games (puradan and sikoko), Popping Sege and Karapan Pork are the cultural exhibitions that are constantly shown and challenged each year during the festival. 

3. The Tribes War 

At first, this celebration is about the war between the tribes including Lani, Dani, and Yali clans. It was a festival of ripeness and flourishing.

This celebration is likewise a stage to show the quality of the clans in the valley. This celebration was first sorted out in 1989 and has been continuing for a long time. 

4. The Scenario 

Despite the fact that the war is only a show, it has a ‘reasonable’ scenario. The war is begun with snatching or murder of tribesmen, or an attack of recently opened cropland.

The clans at that point send their best warriors in their separate formal attire. Be that as it may, the war itself is to a greater degree an organized enormous movement that involves the three clans. 

5. The History of the War

It originated from the tale of the Dani tribes. To shield their towns or to attack others to retaliate for members slaughtered, the Dani rehearsed customary fighting.

In any case, anthropologists note that the “Dani wars” are increasingly a presentation of ability and extravagance of dress and beautification as opposed to a full-scale war to execute the foe. Dani wars show skill and richness, instead of the desire to murder.

Weapons utilized are long lances, estimating 4.5 meters, and bows and arrows. Frequently, in this manner, there are more people injured than slaughtered, and the injured are immediately stolen away from the field. 

6. Culinary Delights 

On the off chance that you come to watch the cultural celebration in Lembah Baliem, you should make the most of their culinary enjoyments. You can undoubtedly appreciate them in Wamena, the greatest city in the valley.

You can try scrumptious dishes, for example, papeda, martabak sagu, lontar cake, udang selingkuh, and some more. You might want to know other Indonesian cities with the best street foods for future reference.

7. The Cultural Market 

Aside from getting a charge out of the monstrous war celebration, you can likewise gain proficiency with some things about the special culture there. What is more, there are numerous great local items you can purchase in the market.

Aside from different painstaking work, you can likewise get uncommon stuff like Papua’s claim to fame, the coffee beans. 

8. Things to Remember 

There are a few unwritten standards you have to regard when visiting Baliem Valley. The main thing is consistently to regard to local people.

Prepare some cigarettes (candies on the off chance that you do not smoke). There are sometimes a local who will move toward you and request a cigarette, give them one. 

Besides, they never cross private property. On the off chance that you want to snap a photo with a local, approach them cautiously.

They will ordinarily request money in return to pose with you.

So, that is a list of things you should know about the Lembah Baliem Festival in Papua. Make sure you also check out things you can do in West Papua.