Indonesians flock to festival to cast mythical effigies out to sea

This aerial image shows effigies during the Tabuik festival on the beach in Pariaman, West Sumatra, on July 21, 2024. - AFP

PARIAMAN, Indonesia: Thousands flocked to a coastal town in western Indonesia Sunday (July 21) to watch a clash between ornate mythical effigies before they are cast into the sea, in a centuries-old ritual born from a Shiite holy day of mourning.

Dozens of men paraded the two winged, horse-shaped effigies across the town of Pariaman on Sumatra island, bringing traffic to a halt in the city centre as the festival known as Tabuik got under way.