Perang api, literally “fire fight”, is said to
have originated from the 16th century, when
the Karangasem Regency was struck by a
plague. Fearing the work of evil spirits, locals
performed an exorcism by throwing burning
coconut husks at each other. Those hit by
the sparks were believed to be cured, thus
cementing the beginnings of a time-honoured
ritual in the area’s history.
feature | perang api
These days, advocates of the practice no
longer seek salvation from illness, but to
symbolically banish wrongful deeds and
negativity accumulated over the past year.
To the villagers, nothing could be more
appealing than the prospect of getting branded
by smoldering fruit. With nervous smiles on
their faces, the men first take turns running
through the embers to demonstrate their
inner strength and ability to overcome fear.
The blaze is extinguished, leaving behind a
bed of red-hot husks. A Hindu priest sprinkles
purified water on the people to protect them
in the imminent battle. Then they’re split into
two factions to square off.
A village elder holds up a loudspeaker. “Let
the perang api begin!”
It’s chaos. War cries erupt in a free-for-all
melee – and anything that moves is fair game.
People pick up hunks of glowing coals and
hurl their projectiles. Those caught in the
crossfire suffer burn marks on their shirts andFearing the work of
evil spirits, locals
performed an exorcism
by throwing burning
coconut husks at each
other. Those hit by the
sparks were believed
to be cured
right The perang api
combatants square off,
each of them throwing
hunks of burning
charcoal at each otherBelow right A
gamelan ensemble
plays the music that
accompanies this
annual eventBelow Too young to
join in, village kids
help collect the
coconut husks that
are burned to produce
ammunition for the
evening’s fire war