Fiery Torch War Celebration

Perang Obor, where mayhem and culture meet for a beautiful clash 🔥 The direct translation into English is “Torch War,” where thousands of people line multiple streets and side streets to watch up close and personal the annual celebration that blessed the upcoming year’s crop harvest. About 30 or so warriors, men and women, will battle each other by striking their burning stocks of tightly wrapped dry palm leaves and coconut husks against one another’s. Once burned, they are left in bonfires that collect in the streets and they reload. It went on for about 40 minutes and it was complete carnage! They often strike each other right next to the crowd or IN it. Embers and flames go everywhere and people scatter or jump around to avoid getting burned haha. I got burned a few times lol. Little kids and elderly were right in the middle of it too! And everybody was stoked as could be! I was definitely the only white person haha. Lots of people weren’t even wearing shoes while walking in all this. Truly a once in a lifetime experience and was blessed to do it with a group of local photographers from Jogjakarta 😁 such an awesome group of people and can’t thank them enough for bringing me along— I appreciate you ALL!! God is good!!