Fight club in Indonesian - fight with brooms to find a friend (7 photos)

Thousands of people come every year to watch grown men in the ring whip each other with brooms made of sharp rattan leaves. This action is called Pukul Sapu, and it is done... to make friends.





Yes, this is how they find friends and strengthen relationships within the family. After all, nothing helps to make friends more than to beat each other with all your heart. My heart immediately feels lighter!



The leaves have rather jagged, sharp edges

Pukul Sapu takes place in the villages of Morella and Mamala seven days after Ramadan. And this is translated as “beating with a broom.” But it is held in honor of the Indonesian god of war, Indra. Probably the friendliest and cutest ritual in honor of the god of war that I know in Asia.

True, they fight there seriously, until red stripes and even scars appear on the back. Well, let them remain; in ancient Japan, wounds on the back were a disgrace for a samurai. But in Indonesia, scars on the back are a sign of strong friendship, something to brag about!



Oh, oh, someone's skirt got caught! Confusion

How different cultures can interpret the same thing. By the way, there is also a diametrical perception regarding tattoos.

How does a broom fight happen?

First, all the men gather in the square to listen to the elder's instructions. He will tell you where not to hit and that you should not cause serious injuries.



If a boy wants to participate, he must take off his shirt according to the rules

The only clothing allowed is shorts or thigh bands, and headbands.

Then all the men are divided into two teams, and all the men from two villages who consider themselves mature participate. That is, if a boy considers himself ready to be a man, he can go against another boy. And then everyone hits each other in turn.



I bet the chubby one doesn't hurt as much as the skinny one.

At the same time, the code of honor tells you to run from blows; the most courageous can even raise their hands and endure being lashed by leaves. As a sign that you accept everything your friend does to you.

But if you can’t stand it, you can cover yourself with the same shield woven from leaves. No one is pretending or whipping for fun, it is important to leave a mark on the participant’s back.



Before the holiday, whole cartloads of leaves are brought from the forests to the village for a fight.

The judge monitors everything that happens, so that no one gets carried away and succumbs to the “blood thirst.”

After everyone has beaten each other, everyone is treated collectively. They rub their backs with a special composition that has been prepared in this village for a hundred years. This way the wounds will heal in two to three days.



Look how sincerely the defeated one smiles. A good tradition in honor of the war

It looks a little like the prototype of our Sabantuys in the fighting of batyrs or the fight with bags on a log at fairs, right?