BADUNG, Bali — One of Bali’s most unusual traditional ceremonies will return to Kapal village in Badung on Saturday, September 26, as residents take part in Siat Tipat Bantal, a centuries-old ritual widely known as the “Rice Cake War.”

The annual tradition will be held around Pura Desa lan Puseh in Kapal, Mengwi, where villagers gather for prayers before dividing into groups and throwing traditional rice cakes at one another as part of the ritual.

For visitors hoping to watch, the event is centered along Jalan Raya Kapal, on the main Denpasar-Gilimanuk route through Mengwi.

Traffic restrictions are scheduled from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. WITA while the ceremony takes place, according to local authorities. Motorists traveling through the area should expect diversions and possible delays.

Vehicles traveling from Denpasar toward Gilimanuk will be diverted west through the Tambak Sari-Soka route before heading north toward Celuk.

Traffic approaching from Gilimanuk will be directed through the Mengwi Bus Terminal area and alternative roads toward Cepaka and Lukluk before continuing toward Denpasar.

Large trucks and buses will temporarily be prevented from entering the affected section of Jalan Raya Kapal, with holding areas prepared while the road restrictions are in effect.

More Than a Food Fight

Known locally as Aci Tabuh Rah Pengangon or Siat Tipat Bantal, the ceremony is held annually during Purnama Sasih Kapat, the full moon of the fourth month in the Balinese calendar.

The tradition is believed to date back to the 14th century and is associated with the legendary Balinese figure Ki Kebo Iwa.

Despite its appearance as a playful food fight, the ritual carries a deeper spiritual meaning for the local community.

Tipat, rice wrapped in woven coconut leaves, represents the feminine principle and the earth, while bantal, a cylindrical rice-based offering, represents the masculine principle and the sky. Their symbolic meeting is associated with fertility, balance and prosperity.

The ceremony is also an expression of gratitude for agricultural abundance and the fertility of the land.

What Visitors Should Know

Visitors can watch the ceremony around Pura Desa lan Puseh in Kapal, Mengwi, Badung, on Saturday, September 26.

Those planning to attend should arrive ahead of the afternoon traffic restrictions and follow instructions from police, village officials and event organizers.

As Siat Tipat Bantal is a religious and customary ceremony rather than a staged tourist attraction, visitors should dress respectfully, remain outside restricted ceremonial areas and avoid interfering with participants or religious proceedings.

Travelers who are not attending the event but plan to use the Denpasar-Gilimanuk road through Kapal on Saturday afternoon are advised to allow extra travel time or use alternative routes.