In Lombok, there is a unique tradition that is always awaited by the local community every year. This tradition is known as Bau Nyale, a sea worm hunting ritual that only appears at certain times. But Bau Nyale is not just about catching sea worms. Behind it, there is a meaningful legend, about Princess Mandalika who is a symbol of sacrifice and unity for the people of Lombok.
Yes, the name Mandalika is taken from the princess. As one of the five Super Priority Tourism Destinations (DPSP), Mandalika, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) has many charms that have successfully attracted the attention of local and foreign tourists. One of them is the selection of the Mandalika area as one of the world-class sport tourism destinations, and hosting the international racing event, MotoGP 2024 on September 27-29, 2024.
The name “Mandalika” is not just any name. Based on the legend believed by the local community, the name Mandalika is taken from the legend of the Sasak Tribe about Princess Mandalika, which is interesting to be used as storynomic tourism.
Back to the tradition at the beginning, Bau nyale Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) is a tradition that is still carried out by the Sasak tribe until now. This tradition of hunting sea worms is related to the legend of Princess Mandalika. This yearly event has developed into a tourism destination on Lombok Island, rather than just a tradition. What precisely is this tradition?
The word “bau nyale” is made up of two syllables, namely “bau,” which means “to catch” in Indonesian, according to the Kemdikbud website. However, the word “nyale” refers to sea worms, which belong to the phylum of annelids. This custom is referred to as weha mbenggo in Dompu Regency, Sumbawa, NTB. Catching sea worms has the same meaning, by the way.
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The bau nyale tradition is believed to have existed for hundreds of years, even estimated before 16 centuries ago. This tradition is passed down from generation to generation based on the Babad Sasak which is believed by the community. This tradition takes place once a year, namely every 20th of the 10th month based on the traditional Sasak calendar. The time always falls around February. The Lombok bau nyale tradition is held at midnight until early morning, which is when sea worms appear on the surface. The place of implementation is at Seger Beach, Kuta, Central Lombok.
At Seger Beach, people are prepared in the bau nyale tradition by carrying a variety of gear, including lanterns, nets, and buckets. They begin their midnight beach dive while keeping an eye out for the appearance of sea worms.
These sea worms are vibrant, with shades of red, yellow, green, gray, and brown, making them easy to see. These sea worms are promptly netted by the community and placed in buckets.
A variety of traditional arts are also showcased at the Bau Nyale Festival, including betandak (exchanging poem), bejambik (giving lovers trinkets), and belancaran (boat cruise). In addition to the Bau Nyale Festival, a statue of Princess Mandalika was erected in the Mandalika region to commemorate the princess’s sacrifice.
