10 Unique Indonesian Traditions That Will Hypnotize You

indonesian traditions
Rofiq
Rofiq 
Updated
| 4 min read
|
0 K+
37.2K+ readers and counting!

The vast archipelago of Indonesia is home to many traditions and cultures. Separated by the sea, each island has their own language, customs, and way of life. The Indonesian culture is formed by the indigenous people as well as influences from China, India, Europe, and the Middle East. It varies from traditional to contemporary. Religions also have impacted cultural assimilation, creating the most diverse society in the world. When discovering Asia, don’t overlook an amazing Indonesian adventure. Go island hopping and find out the uniqueness of these best Indonesian traditions.

While you’re at it, check out some of the best resorts in Indonesia and find a wonderful place to stay during your holiday!

1. Kasada (East Java): harvest offering ritual


Exploring Bromo is incomplete without enjoying the annual Kasada ceremony, so be sure to include this in your list of things to do. It’s always held on 14th of Kasada (according to the ancient Javanese calendar) at Mount Bromo. The purpose of Kasada is to commemorate the sacrifice of Raden Kusuma (the son of Jaka Seger and Lara Anteng, people respected by the locals). The Tenggerese people will carry up all of their offerings (the harvest and poultry) to the peak and throw them in the crater. Meanwhile, some performances like Jaranan are held in the village.

Upacara Kasada

Address: Mount Bromo, East Java

Price: free

Visited this place?

2. Rambu Solo (South Sulawesi): Toraja's funeral ceremony

Tana Toraja, Salu funeral
Source: Photo by Flickr user Arian Zwegers used under CC BY 2.0

Rambu Solo is a traditional funeral ceremony held by the Toraja people. The aim of the ceremony is to address the spirit of dead people. They believe that a spirit will return to heaven, Puyo, with their ancestors. The ritual begins with animal slaughtering (normally buffalo and pig). The social status depends on how many animals are sacrificed. The highlights you should see during the ceremony are buffalo fighting, singing, and line dances.

Rambu Solo

Address: Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi

Price: free

Visited this place?

3. Ngurek (Bali): body hurting ritual

Ngurek dalam penyambutan hari raya nyepi
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Maula039 used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Ngurek is an extreme Balinese tradition held for religious purposes. The worshipers will hurt themselves by stabbing their body with a traditional knife called “keris.” During this ritual, participants are thought to become possessed. Ngurek or Nguying tradition aims to serve “Sang Hyang Widi Wasa,” the god. You can watch this unique tradition in almost all villages across Bali.

Ngurek

Address: Almost all villages in Bali

Price: free

Visited this place?

4. Pasola (Sumba): war reenactment with horses

Upacara adat Pasola
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Fakhri Anindita used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Pasola is one of the exceptional traditional ceremonies of the Sumba people in East Nusa Tenggara. It’s always held every year from February to March. The aim of the tradition is to get God’s blessing for a better harvest. Pasola literally means a “war play.” It occurs between two groups of men dressed in traditional costume, holding blunt wooden spears all while riding their horses. You can enjoy this ritual along with the crowd in an open public space.

Pasola

Address: Sumba Island, East Nusa Tenggara

Price: free

Visited this place?

5. Fahombo Batu (Nias Island): jumping over boulders


Fahombo Batu (stone jumping) is the feature of Nias Island’s culture. It’s performed by a young man who dresses nicely in traditional costume. He should jump over a 2 meter (6.5 ft) pyramid of stacked boulders. During the jumping procession, the visitors can enjoy the man showing his skill from a distance. If the local young man can challenge himself to jump over the stones, it means that he has reached maturity.

Fahombo Batu

Address: Pulau Nias, North Sumatra

Price: free

Visited this place?

6. Kebo-Keboan (Banyuwangi): asking for rain festival

Kebo-keboan Alasmalang, Banyuwangi. 07
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Wisnu Bangun Saputro used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Kebo-Keboan is another unique tradition in Banyuwangi, which asks for rain. The ceremony is always held during the dry season and is held in all Osing villages. The participants dress like buffaloes by smearing their body with oil and wearing two horns on their head. The locals believe that a buffalo symbolizes power. The buffalo men march and dance excitedly along the street.

Kebo-Keboan

Address: Banyuwangi, East Java

Price: free

Visited this place?

7. Tabuik (West Sumatra): welcoming Islamic new year

Festival Tabuik di Pariaman
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Syofiardi Bachyul Jb used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Tabuik is actually a religious-related tradition in West Sumatra. It aims to welcome Muharam, the first month of the Islamic year. Locals carry a Tabuik (a colorful coffin-shaped object made of rattan and bamboo) and float it through the sea. It also commemorates the death of Mohammed’s grandsons named Hasan and Husain. This tradition is a mixture of cultural practices between Tamil and Minang people.

Tabuik Ceremony

Address: Padang, West Sumatra

Price: free

Visited this place?

8. Bakar Batu (Papua): cooking on hot stones

Bakar Batu
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Keenan63 used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Bakar Batu was formerly just a cooking on hot stones ritual for Papuan people. Now, it’s not just cooking but also a festival for celebrations like weddings, giving birth, or public events. Bakar Batu has a deeply symbolic nature of gratefulness and an aim to strengthen relationships. All villagers gather, light fires on piled stones, and cook yams or wild boar wrapped in banana leaves. Finally, they eat this meal together.

Acara Bakar Batu

Address: Baliem Valley, Papua

Price: free

Visited this place?

9. Bambu Gila (Maluku): the crazy bamboo dance

Bambu Gila
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Djuli Pamungkas used under CC BY-SA 4.0

A numinous tradition native to the Maluku is held by a group of men carrying bamboo. The locals believe that the bamboo has mystical powers and can become possessed. The traditional musical instrument is also played during the ritual. The music makes the bamboo dance sideways and the men carrying the bamboo follow the bamboo’s dancing rhythm.

Bambu Gila

Address: Ternate, North Maluku

Price: free

Visited this place?

10. Peresean (Lombok): rattan sword fighting

Tari Peresean
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Indah Puritiara used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Peresean is a fighting tradition between two men from the Sasak tribe in Lombok. They use a rattan stick as a sword, and a shield made of buffalo skin. The fighter is only allowed to attack the opponent’s back and shoulders. Traditional musical instruments such as a gong, kendang (traditional drum), and seruling (traditional flute) are played in the background.

Peseran

Address: Kampung Sasak, Lombok

Price: free

Visited this place?

Experience unique cultural celebrations in Indonesia

When thinking of Indonesia, you must associate it with a beach adventure, mustn’t you? While the beaches and surf spots in Indonesia are wonderful, they certainly aren’t the only captivating attraction. Discover the local traditions and cultures of the diverse Indonesia. The harvest offering ceremony, the unusual funeral ceremony, and the young man jumping over a boulder are proof that Indonesia is so rich in culture. Time your visit to Indonesia to witness the country’s uniqueness.

Visited this place?
Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

History


Get Trip101 in your inbox

Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data

Rofiq, hailing from East Java, Indonesia, is a passionate explorer who thrives on discovering new places, encountering diverse people, and immersing himself in various languages and cultures. His...Read more

 Want to contribute as a Local Expert?
Explore Indonesia
x
Good things are meant to be shared!
Back to top
Visited any of these places? Click this button to activate our "Add a Tip" feature to share your experience.