Lapangan Pasola Wanokaka

Historical Origins and Formation Legends

The history of Lapangan Pasola Wanokaka is deeply rooted in folk legends of conflict and reconciliation. According to oral narratives passed down through generations, the tradition at this field began with a story of a leader named Umbu Dulla in Kampung Rabar. The legend tells of the disappearance of a high-ranking official's wife, who was later found to have remarried a man from another village. To avoid uncontrolled bloodshed (civil war), a substitute ritual was agreed upon in the form of a skill-based game of throwing wooden spears (holla) while riding horses.

Periodically, it is difficult to determine the exact year of the modern administrative formation of this field, but the traditional elders (Rato) believe that the ritual in Wanokaka has existed long before the arrival of Dutch colonial influence in Sumba in the 19th century. This field was specifically chosen due to its strategic position in a fertile valley, surrounded by hills that house supporting traditional villages such as Waigali, Prayulang, and Lahona.

Landscape Characteristics and Traditional Spatial Structure

Unlike historical sites in Java dominated by brick structures or temples, Lapangan Pasola Wanokaka has a sacred natural landscape-based "architecture." The field does not have permanent fences defining its boundaries, but its limits are determined by imaginary lines understood traditionally.

The social construction around this field involves the placement of spectators and participants based on social strata and village origin. On the north side of the field, there is usually a higher area designated for the Rato (traditional leaders) to observe and interpret natural signs. The ground of the field is intentionally left natural, without hardening or asphalt, to maintain a direct connection with the earth (Mother Earth) which, in Marapu belief, must be "fed" with the blood spilled during the ritual.

Historical Significance and Major Events

Lapangan Pasola Wanokaka is a silent witness to the resilience of Sumba's culture against the currents of modernization. Its historical significance lies in its role as a traditional conflict resolution mechanism. In the past, when inter-clan tensions escalated, this field was the place to channel aggressive energy ritualistically and in an organized manner.

The most crucial historical event that occurs here annually is the appearance of "Nyale" (colorful sea worms) on a nearby beach, followed by a procession to the field. The number and color of Nyale found by the Rato will determine the "fate" or harvest forecast for the Wanokaka community for the coming year. If the Nyale are plump and healthy, the ritual at the field will be joyous, signifying prosperity.

Important Figures and the Role of Traditional Rato

The continuity of Lapangan Pasola Wanokaka is inseparable from the role of traditional figures or Rato. Figures like the Rato from the Waigali clan hold the highest authority in determining the timing of the ritual based on the lunar calendar (dark and bright moon). These figures act as mediators between the real and the supernatural worlds. During the colonial era, traditional leaders in Wanokaka were known for their tenacious defense of the ritual's integrity, even though the Dutch authorities at the time often worried about potential unrest triggered by thousands of spear-wielding horsemen.

Cultural and Religious Standing: Marapu and Fertility

For the local community, Lapangan Pasola Wanokaka is an "Open Temple." In Marapu theology, the blood that drips onto the field's ground from the wounds of Pasola players is not an accident but a sacred sacrifice. This blood is believed to fertilize the land and ensure a successful rice harvest. Without the ritual at this field, the community believes there would be a cosmic imbalance leading to drought or epidemics.

Another unique historical aspect is the "Podo" customary rule, which is a period of quiet before the Pasola festival where residents are forbidden from wearing flashy jewelry, holding parties, or beating gongs indiscriminately. This rule maintains the sanctity of the field and its surrounding areas until the peak day arrives.

Conservation Status and Preservation Efforts

Currently, Lapangan Pasola Wanokaka has been designated as one of the main cultural tourism attractions in East Nusa Tenggara. The West Sumba Regency government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Culture, is undertaking non-physical conservation efforts by registering Pasola as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Indonesia.

Restoration efforts at this site are more focused on maintaining road access and building spectator stands that do not disrupt the traditional aesthetics and sanctity of the site. The biggest challenge in preserving this site is the modernization that is beginning to reach the younger generation of Sumba, but through traditional education in the supporting villages of Wanokaka, the historical value of this field remains strongly preserved.

Unique Historical Facts of Lapangan Wanokaka

One rarely known unique fact is that the spears used in the ritual at this field must be made of special wood that should not be excessively sharpened with metal, but must conform to the size standards set by the ancestors to be "fair" to the opponent. Furthermore, history records that Lapangan Wanokaka is one of the few places in the world where the Iron Age cavalry warfare tradition is still actively practiced on a large scale in the 21st century without losing its original spiritual essence.

As a historical site, Lapangan Pasola Wanokaka is not just about the past, but a symbol of the sustainability of Sumba's human identity. It is a space where history, courage, and devotion to ancestors merge in the dust kicked up by the hooves of fast-running Sandalwood horses.