Pasola has an etymology derived from the word ‘sola’ or ‘hola’, in which it means wood javelin that being used to throw from one group to another while riding the horse at full speed. By giving ‘pa’ as the prefix (pa-sola, pa-hola), the word Pasola has the meaning of play. So, pasola does literally mean as a sport performance through contest of agility by throwing the (wood) javelin and also riding the horse too.
Further, Pasola is a part from the series of traditional ceremony being held by Sumba residents who still follow the local religion there called as Marapu. And the performance has already been running at four villages in Sumba: Kodi and Lamboya (February); Wanukaka and Gaura (March). Each village is to fulfill the duty. Not to mention the role is being shifted anually from one village to another.
We are going to witness the Pasola ceremony at a very broad savanna. So Kabisu and Paraingu residents from respective participant group will attend this event as well. Every participant must be a man that already acquires two basic skills: riding (in high speed) and javelin. And Pasola ceremony has usually become the closing ceremonial from the whole Nyale event.
Simply, Pasola is being the finest opportunity to enhance and witness the kinship. As any game can apparently be gainful tool for the community there. Notably for the people who take part in the Pasola ceremony. During the Pasola, everybody is proactively involving him/herself to laugh, delight and cheer up towards one another joyfully yet happily. Along with the performance and the yell from the lovely girls.
There, the cultural approach has sustained any resident’s daily to build kinship and friendship too for long. As a culture festival, it is the true elegance of Pasola.