Tenganan, an old village on the island, also known as Bali Aga village, has a unique traditional ceremony  that is banana war or ‘mesabatan Biu’. It is held during the ceremony of aci katiga around late March and early April in the village of Dauh Tukad Tenganan, Manggis, Karangasem.

The uniqueness of this ceremony is the nuances of ritual and religion and it is done for generations by the people of Tenganan, increase the diversity of customs and traditions that exist in Bali that make the traveler become curious to find out, because that makes them interested not only the attraction but many other factors such as culture and tradition, hospitality, creative arts, rituals, security, a wide variety of amusement parks and many others.

Banana war or ‘mesabatan biu’ ceremony was held in the courtyard of Bale Agung temple, in the framework of the inauguration of chairman and deputy chairman of the local youth.

Followed by 16 village youth selected by Village head against 2  people (a candidate for chairman and vice). Before the ceremony started these youths were looking for banana and coconut, and banana to be used as a weapon of war.

The 16 youths gathered in one place, at the end of the village about 300 meters from the temple Bale Agung, they wore Kamben (cloth), udeng (traditional Balinese man headband) and no shirt and showed that they already adults, and both youth already standing in the street, opposite way.

The elder men were sitting on a bale located in Bale Agung, while the mother prepared a special meal to eat, ‘megibung’ (eating together).

Fathers, youth and children, lined up along the road seem to be witnessing the war, culture and tradition is indeed quite unique.

Once there is a sign from kelian of Tenganan Dauh Tukad, a sign the war began, the youths almost running toward the middle of the road between the temple and the end of the road, and here the war began, two young men who were subjected to war and allowed to fight would be overwhelmed because of the war that is not balanced, yet they continue to move toward the temple, because they should not be stopped,  hurriedly and fall, when that happens they will be deemed a failure and does not deserve to be a leader.

The ceremony will end after both candidates and deputy chairman of this young man arrived at the gate of Pura Bale Agung, so that after passing through the gate they are considered passed, and with bruised face. The aim of the banana war is to find a credible leader, strong mentally and physically to face an increasingly complex problem. Tenganan has a unique addition to the tradition of the banana war, also has a tradition of pandanus war or Mekaré-kare.