Residents of Bali’s Suwat village welcomes new year with water festival
Traditional water fights are not uncommon in Southeast Asia, the most famous of which takes place during the celebration of Thai New Year, known as Songkran, which is observed annually in April.
In the traditional village of Suwat, located in Bali’s Gianyar regency, the recent New Year’s celebration was also marked with a chipper water festival.
The Suwat Water Festival – the latest of which was the fifth edition of the annual tradition – is a three-day event, which began on Monday with a walking tour around the village.
According to a report from Nusa Bali, all participants are obliged to collect trash on the journey on the first day, especially plastic waste, and the person who collects the most trash wins a prize. In addition, they also took part in a tree-planting event.
On the day before New Year’s, participants make their way to the local river to prepare for the last day of the festival, followed with traditional games, such as tug of war, in the middle of paddy fields.
“These games are supposed to take us to simpler days, when children are less addicted to smartphones. Living in a village, playing in the fields without fear of getting dirty in the mud. This event is open to the public, anyone can participate,” said Suwat Village Chief Ngakan Putu Sudibya.
The last day of the festival is marked with Siat Yeh ritual, which is when the water fights take place. According to Sudibya, it is meant to signify the act of washing to prepare us for a new day with a new spirit in the new year.
On social media, photos and videos from the festival show residents splashing water on one another using colorful water dippers.
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