The “Nusa Penida 2025” festival concluded on Nusa Penida. For four days, the island was alive with music, dance, and the sea. The festival brought together a parade of Balinese culture, a local artisans' fair, and environmental activities such as the release of turtles, coral restoration, and beach clean-ups.
The festival opened with the ritual pendet pasepan dance performed by 50 girls by the sea under the open sky. This dance is both a thanksgiving to the earth and ocean and a plea for protection. Locals call it “the breath of the island.”
One of the most touching moments was the release of 15 sea turtles into the ocean, which had been raised in a local rehabilitation center. The turtles were six months old. They were raised in saltwater pools, fed small shrimps and seaweed, and monitored for their flippers and shells. It is believed that they remember their native beach and, when mature, will return here to lay their eggs.
On the same day, around 1000 coral fragments were planted. The marine area of Nusa Penida is one of the richest in Bali, covering about 1,400 hectares of natural coral reefs. It is home to rare marine species, including manta rays and the mola mola fish.
The festival concluded with a Fun Run led by the district head. Thousands of participants ran along the hills of Nusa Penida, tackling five kilometers of ups and downs. The organizers deliberately made the route challenging to demonstrate that Nusa Penida is not just a backdrop for selfies but a real, vibrant island with its own nature, strength, and character.
Photo: denpost
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