MATARAM - Every up twenty of tenth month traditional Sasak calendar prior to sun raise any special attractive at Sager Beach center Lombok regent. In common calendar is at February. The action is Bau Nyale event. Bau Nyale popular and visited many Sasak people and tourist. Bau is mean cacth and Nyale is worm at sasak Languange. Nyale is sea worm that live in coral under sea.

Local people believe is Nyale have some magic for prosperous for who believe it. But other wise will be disadvantage for people that to play down. ”That legend is believed many people in here,” said Lalu Wirekarme as tourism marketing section at center Lombok tourism office.

Catch worm tradition believe is affect depend nature influence and farmer life style. They are custom believe God for give at every their life business. This Nyale worm appear special sign that miracle from God.

Usually appear Nyale worm before is sign with big rain and big wind at night. But four days toward (four days after fullmoon time) these worms appear about big rain will stop changed with little rain. The real condition at the beach is very calm and quite. Prior to sun raise nyale worm will be appear with sea wave. But this action just for while. Because the worm will be disappear at the little time with sun raise.

In this moment will be see how solidarity and togetherness each other many people from different cosiety at Sasak ethnic. That is needed to preserve for Sasak tradition.

Mandalika Legend Story
This moment is take the myth about Nyale that believe many Sasak Lombok people. That is very interest story for Sasak people. One by one old man told that story.

It is how romantic story about a princess sacrifice. She is Mandalika Princess that sacrifice is for help her people at kingdom from a war if she got to propose a prince, because many princes that want to be married her.

Mandalika princess is a beautiful princess of Tonjang Beru kingdom at south Lombok beach. Her parents are very wise leader for their people. They are Prince of Tonjang Beru and Queen of Dewi Seranting.

Her beautifully is description a lady who elegant and pretty. Her eyes like east star and her hair like coconut flower (mayang terurai). Beside all this description she is famous as nice lady and good attitude. She is proudly her people.

Their good behaviors make all their people proudly their leader and support all duty. The kingdom description is heaven. Many people are to have good life.

The good life is famous between many kingdoms other at lombok Island. That’s way many princes from many kingdoms like Johor, Lipur, Pane, Kuripan, Daha and Beru. They prince is fall in love to Mandalika princess.

They get lucky who is getting married with her. But all prince propose must be rejected by Mandalika princess. The prince is disappointed and get angry because it. They are Datu Teruna prince from Johor kingdom and Maliawang prince from Lipur kingdom.

Datu Teruna gave task for deputy Arya Bawal and Arya Tebuik to propose with warning no had rejection. If reject Datu Teruna propose they will be demolished Tonjang beru kingdom. The same warning gave from Maliawang prince who task Arya Bumbang and Arya tuna as his deputy.

But the warning can not make afraid Mandalika princess. The both prince send some magic for her. The magic is very strong for Mandalika princess. Because of the magic make Mandalika princess always remember face both prince. She got sick and all people at the kingdom so sad.

Based reason of Mandalika reject is just her people will be as victim if she take propose from one of the princes. She thought best condition for her people. All of this is based her love and responsibility for her people, because if one of princes disappointed he will destroy all kingdom area.

By her ascetic she get message to invite all princes meeting at the twentieth of tenth month at Sasak calendar. This meeting is design at prior sun raise before adzan (call to pray) Subuh time.

Each prince must be following all their people and to get together at Kuta beach. Have six princes came in there with following their people many people until thousand people. The beach is like some food to get together ant. The people came in is want to know Mandalika princess choice. Almost all people of Lombok Island came in.

Before adzan time came in the pretty Mandalika princess appear with kingdom property that gold coated. With many kingdom soldier guard Mandalika princess came in. all guest can see her elegant and pretty face. Her dress is so beautiful made up silk material.

Not too long time after that the princess walked and stopped at the some stone at the beach and look to all people. She was declare her decision about all propose princes with best word and loudly sound. Her declare is that Mandalika princess is for all people, because she can not choice one of prince. She believes that she is doomed as worm that can enjoy together. The Nyale would appear routine at the same time at sea surface.

And the end her speech that make confused all people in there. When they not yet understand what she is mean Mandalika princess was to jump to the sea. Her body to take wave right away and some lightning get rumble.

In the beach no have anything that signed her except worm appears. The worm is much count at all beaches. The worm sea said nyale (to flare up). Many people guess that the sea worm is Mandalika princess reincarnation. After that they compete together take it for much.

They want to enjoy this worm as they loved for their princess. They usually get eat this worm or another purpose. That is Nyale romantic legend. Until now this ritual action was tradition at Lombok Island. They are will catch sea worm usually come together since in the afternoon. Meanwhile wait catch time in the morning usually many attraction to come up. It is just for killing time.

The attractions are some traditional art like Peresean, Betandak (sing traditional song), Bejambik (take souvenir to their couple), Belancaran (go round sea by boat) and take camp. About ten years later have colossal drama get come up at Sager Beach supported government.

The story is about Mandalika princess legend. Nyale appear for farmer at south Lombok si special blazing for God. They believe that Nyale is one of prosperity sign that harvest satisfaction.

Lalu Wirekarme said that Bau Nyale more popular event after Lombok tourism more famous. Many art attractions come up. Government support peresean compete. The peresean is traditional game similar with boxing game. But the peresean players (pepadu) take rotan stick for kick each other. Beside rotan stick player also take tameng (a shield for combat). This tameng make from goats skin. More fancy this event get motor cross race in the beach. It is change forum from drug or racing.

Bau Nyale event is common celebration at all beaches at Lombok Island about 16 beaches wide seventy two kilometers. From west up east at south Lombok area (center Lombok regent exactly). Main area is at Sager beach at Kuta village. Center of celebration is at Kuta beach because in there is more complete all facilities. Another beach is Kaliantan, Selong Belanak, Mawun. Sager beach or famous with Nyale princess have beautiful slope that steep.

Beach is core tourism business at Lombok Island. The beautiful beaches make interesting many people come in from many countries. In the Kuta beach until Tanjung An beach is best for swimming activity. It is beach at south Lombok about fifty four kilometers southeast from Mataram. Special view at Kuta beach is white sand that likes original pepper. The beach area is from Ujung Kelor beach to border on east Lombok until Pengantap beach border on west Lombok.

Commonly many young lady and young men patient wait time to catch Nyale worm, although the weather is rainy and wet. They are available to take wet and sleepy. They are not only people stay there but many people come from another place at this island. They are by motor or car to get there. Usually they come together.

In Kuta beach and Sager usually built strong stage for come up all art attraction. Kuta beach in Lombok Tourism Development Corporation area it is at Pujut area of center Lombok government.

That is location sea worm one time every year. They are appearance at sea surface at sun raise prior for reproduction process. For this time is get beautiful view because that color lightly worm take some nice view in the sea.

Based research scientifically by Dr dr Soewignyo Soemohardjo, this worm type is have high protein and than contain some particle that kill microbe.

Based another research at art socio side have result about Nyale, more seventy percent respondent take believe they are hope more prosperity from Nyale worm. They are will throw worm parcel leaf to their rice field area to hope will get success harvest in the next time. Sasak society tradition take the Nyale worm cook with steam mix some flavor. It is delicious food from the worm.

The worm appearance count signed people in there as natural sign relation about harvest success. If many worm appear will be more rain and it is make more harvest success. South Lombok area is dry area and no irrigation. That rice field just dependent rain (tadah hujan system).(supriyantho khafid)