Bau Nyale

While the thought of a festival celebrating sea worms may seem odd to many, but Bau Nyale has a surprisingly romantic origin. The legend says that the beautiful Princess Mandalika was sought by so many suitors that she threw herself into the ocean to prevent them going to war over her. Her hair was transformed into the long strands of the Nyale sea worms, which became a symbol of the Sasak people. Each year at the festival, people catch as many worms as possible, which predict the year’s rice harvest. The worms are then eaten raw, steamed, or fried.