Nyale Ritual - Photo Gallery
The Sea Worm Ritual that Begins the Pasola Season
Nyale is an annual ritual along the western coast of Sumba, Indonesia, where colourful sea worms emerge from the ocean in large numbers. For the Sumbanese people, this natural event marks the beginning of the Pasola season, the island’s famous ritual spear battle.
Villagers gather along the beaches before dawn to collect the worms, which are believed to bring fertility, prosperity, and blessings for the coming agricultural year.
