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Once a year on the peaceful isle of Lombok, at the time of the full moon in February , a great gathering takes place on Kuta beach in Lombok. Known to the Sasak locals as the time of the Nyale, it is welcomed by the people who come to celebrate as thousands of sea worms mysteriously arrive in the area. The nyale sparkle like jewels as they reflect the moonlight.

Sasaks come from all over to congregate at Kuta Beach for this special occasion. Many believe that there is a connection between the extraordinary happening they will witness and the Sasak legend which tells the story of Princess Mandalika. This young princess of rare beauty is reputed to have sacrificed her love and her worldly needs for the well-being of the people of her kingdom.

According to legend she was desired by many princes, from the kingdoms round about. This eventually became the cause of her sacrifice.

As the worms make their annual pilgrimage to Kuta beach the Sasaks also arrive there to recall the legend of the beautiful Princess from the Kingdom of Tonjung Beru who, it is said, was the source of the Nyale coming to this area.

The fact that the worms still visit this area on time each year helps to give validity to the myth. The Sasaks believe that these worms have a close relationship with the legend.

Princess Mandalika is described as an extraordinarily beautiful woman with irresistible grace and charm. As a result of her qualities she was faced with a dilemma. There were six princes who wanted her hand in marriage, each of whom , threatened to attack her kingdom of Tonjung Baru if their proposals were rejected.

Needless to say, Princess Mandalika was very concerned because her decision would inevitably result in the destruction of her kingdom and the death of its people.

As a result of her despair she decided to walk along Kuta beach to find solitude and possibly a solution. As she walked she stopped to look at a stone pillar which stood vertical and towered above the beach. This pillar was known as Ankus and, as she looked at the rock and contemplated her sadness she was approached by Prince Aria Johor from the Kingdom of Sawing who suddenly appeared out of nowhere. This prince, captivated by her beauty, begged Mandalika's immediate readiness to become his princess.

She rejected his proposal which at first upset him and then resulted in his anger. At this time Prince Bumbang from the Kingdom of Awung also approached the princess with a similar request. As a result war was declared between the two men in order to solve their dispute.

The Princess Mandalika was very sad. She felt responsible for the consequences to come for her people. Her devastation and confusion became overwhelming. In the light of the full moon on that very night she walked quietly into the sea. Her beautiful body was swept under the waves and became lost in the darkness of the night. At the moment that she disappeared there came a strange sound from the sea. This eerie sound is still described by the people as Princess Mandalika's victory call. Her people would no longer be sacrificed to the battle.

Suddenly a bolt of lightning shot down and struck the sea creating a twinkling of lights. They were the lights of these small animals which had appeared in the sea for the first time, as if arising from the middle of the ocean. The Sasaks believe that the Princess Mandalika's had body changed into the form of the Nyale.

Although this legend is not written in any historical sense, it remains a strong aural tradition and is believed by many people as the visit of the Nyale is repeated year after year.

A Party of Youth

On the afternoon , before the Nyale make their appearance, hundreds of young Sasak people come to Kuta beach. Some come on foot from the nearby villages, while others come by public transport from further away.

As they wait for the sun to set they prepare themselves for an evening of social activities. Fires are built and the young people make new friends. The followers of this ceremony called Belaka, are decreasing in number, while the ceremony called Belancharan, which includes boarding a ship in the morning is very popular with the locals.

In recent years the local Sasak society has been active in promoting this legend and the story of the Nyale on this day and they have actively involved music and dance performances and Art displays which become attractions to bring tourists and visitors to the area. This way visitors to Lombok can see at first hand the events which led to this unusual event the Nyale.

Nyale occurred on the night of the 24th of February, 2000 and the beach was very busy with visitors and performances. The nearby Novotel Resort sponsored much of the entertainment for the evening.