The Baliem Valley Cultural Festival held every August in Indonesia is an opportunity for the country to introduce to tourists the beauty of the customs and traditions of the Papuan tribes.
A Papuan man with tattoos all over his body and a wild boar tusk on his nose.
Papuan men, women and children dressed in traditional costumes pose for a photo together to mark the 25th anniversary of the Baliem Valley Festival.
The Papuans in the Baliemc Valley are divided into three main tribes: Dani, Lani and Yali. Each tribe has its own characteristics, customs and areas of residence. Since 1989, each year these three tribes have gathered for three days to celebrate the valley festival, singing, eating, dancing and having fun.
The colorful hat is elaborately made with bird feathers and wild boar tusks.
A baby from the Dani tribe has traditional designs painted on his face.
Participating in the traditional festival of the Papua people, many tourists may feel embarrassed when admiring the special traditional costumes of the three tribes. All men wear "koteke" a kind of cap on the sensitive parts held by two fragile strings wrapped around the waist, very special.
The elaborate traditional costume of Papuan men includes mud smeared around the feet, wearing Kotoke, and feathers and animal teeth decorated around the body.
A man decorates himself by smearing mud on his body and wrapping fern leaves around his waist.
Meanwhile, the women of the tribe will wear skirts made from orchid shells and a traditional "noken" hat. What is special is that they go topless even when appearing in front of crowds.
Most men wear "Kotoke" to cover their private parts.
Dani women light fires to roast sweet potatoes, one of the staple foods and a special dowry.
The festival is held in a vibrant atmosphere for three days with many interesting activities such as mock war games, singing and dancing together. Watch pig races and join in parties with the main dish being grilled pork.
Women are preparing food for the festival in traditional style.
Part of the festival is holding mock battles.
The tribes in the Baliem Valley live completely isolated from the modern world, they still retain their unique cultural traits. People only discovered the Papua people in 1983 when an American philanthropist passed through this area on his way to New Guinea.
