Pandan War: The Balinese Fight Club

This is a short documentary we shot about a unique balinese tradition where villagers fight with cactus like plants.
Perang Pandan at Tenganan village, East Bali, is an age-old tradition unique only to this well-preserved old Balinese village in the Karangasem regency.

Also referred to locally as mekare-kare and megeret pandan, Perang Pandan is a mass coming-of-age ritual, dedicated to the Hindu god of war and the sky, Indra.

It sees friendly duels between all male villagers, who bout each other armed with a small rattan shield in one hand and a tied packet of thorny ‘pandan’ leaves in the other.
The event is held annually, adhering to its own local calendar.