Watch a truly unique Festival held on remote Lembata, the island best known for its heart stopping traditional whale hunt to support the villagers’ subsistence living. Here on Lembata, by the big island of Flores in the East Nusatenggara province, the Nuhannera Marine Festival 2016 will take place from 12th to 15th August 2015 at the Nuhannera Cape, Waienga Bay, in the Lebatukan District on Lembata island.
The four days' event features exciting traditional boat rowing competition among locals to test the prowess of each man, swimming across the bay and fun fishing, To top it off there will be traditional and motorized boat parade and traditional art performances. To show off the wonders of the seas, an Underwater photography competition will also be held, but there will also be a beach & sea cleaning campaign, as well as social programs in 14 villages, all aimed at introducing the Waienga Bay to become one of the tourist icons of Lembata. the Nuhannera marine festival forms part of a series of promotional events which will also include the Atadei-Lamelera Explore & Batutara Expedition, Daventure Festival, and Lamalohot Festival.
Minister of Tourism, AriefYahya, relates that there are many fascinating marine attractions on and around Lembata while the festival will also bring out the best of local culture and traditions. “Have you ever been to Lembata? Now is the perfect time to go!” commented Minister Arief Yahya. Meanwile, Head of the Culture and Tourism Office of Lembata Regency, Longginus Lega added that the event is expected to boost local and regional economy through tourism. “We hope that through Tourism the local and regional economy will be boosted, adding that Nuhannera Bay has tremendous underwater splendors," said Longginus Lega.
The island of Lembata offers a wide range of amazing tourist attractions such as the Bukit Doa or the ‘Prayers Hill’ which offers a spectacular view overlooking the Adonara Strait. Moreover, the island is also famous for its traditional whale hunt centered at Lamalera village. In Lamalera, villagers still set out to sea to hunt large sea animals, like whales, manta rays and sometimes dolphins by harpooning these big fish manually, all to provide food and a living for the entire village. They undertake these hunts on simple sailboats following ancient beliefs, taboos and tradition. It is for these reasons, therefore, that the Lamalera whale hunts are until this day exempt from the international ban on whaling, considering the dangerous traditional way this is still done and the fact that hunting these giant ocean creatures help villagers support their subsistence economy.
Other amazing attractions of Lembata include Mount Ile Ape Crater, the Batutara Volcano, Lowolein Beach in Dikesare Village, Epo Beach in Pantutawa Village, Bour Hill and Beach in Bourdan Village, and many more.
Lembata Island lies 190 kilometers north of Kupang, capital city of East Nusatenggara. Loweleba is the largest town on Lembata Island, and is perched at the southern coast of the island. To get to Lowelaba, fly from Bali or Lombok to Maumere to the Frans Seda airport. From Maumere, travel to Larantuka by bus. From Larantuka, the only way to reach Lamalera is by ferry crossing from Lewoleba which ply each day, or you can also travel straight to Lamalera from Larantuka by a once-a-week ferry.
