
Wearing elaborate tribal clothing and decorations, this is the Indonesia’s rarely seen Dani tribe celebrating the 27th Baliem Valley Cultural Festival.

Every August the Dani wage mock battles with neighbouring tribes - the Lani and Yali peoples - to celebrate the fertility and welfare of the Papua province as well as upholding ancient traditions.

The men can be seen sporting distinctive tribal attire, including face paint, feathers, animal bones and intricate penis sheaths named Koteka. The women wear skirts made from woven orchid fibres decorated with straw and woven bags, worn from the head, named 'noken'.

Other images show the tribe playing with an ancient instrument named a pikon, which along Papuan singing and chanting forms the soundtrack to the battle.

After the battle, there is customary dancing and music of Papua, rattan spear throwing and games, pig racing, earth cooking and the celebratory roast pig feast.

This year the festival was held on the 8-10th of August in Wamena, Walesi Sub-district, Jayawijaya District, Papua, with some 200 foreign tourists watching 300 dancers.

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Dani tribespeople stage a mock battle in the 27th annual Baliem Valley Festival in Walesi district in Wamena, Papua Province

Every August the Dani wage mock battles with neighbouring tribes - the Lani and Yali peoples - to celebrate the fertility and welfare of the region

The tribes wear distinctive tribal attire and battle with bow and arrows and spears

The men can be seen sporting distinctive tribal attire, including face paint, feathers, animal bones and intricate penis sheaths named Koteka

The Dani, Yali and Lani tribes have staged battle to symbolise the high spirit and power for generations

The Baliem Valley where the festival is held is located in the central mountains of Papua

The women wear skirts made from woven orchid fibres decorated with straw and woven bags, worn from the head, named 'noken'

A Dani tribeswoman wearing facepaint and skirts made from woven orchid fibres

An Indonesian soldier from the 756th battalion "Jayawijaya" participates in the opening dance of the festival

A tribesman plays with an ancient instrument named a pikon, which along Papuan singing and chanting forms the soundtrack to the battle.

The music and tribal dancing forms an integral complonent for the two-day long festival

After the battle, there is customary dancing and music of Papua, rattan spear throwing and games, pig racing, earth cooking and the celebratory roast pig feast

This year the festival was held on the 8-10th of August in Wamena, Walesi Sub-district, Jayawijaya District, Papua, with some 200 foreign tourists watching 300 dancers

Papuanese people along with tourists watch the 27th annual Baliem Valley Festival in Walesi district in Wamena, Papua Province

Wearing elaborate tribal clothing and decorations, this is the Indonesia’s rarely seen Dani tribe celebrating the 27th Baliem Valley Cultural Festival

A Dani tribesman draws an arrow as he takes part in the festival in Walesi district in Wamena, Papua Province

Tradition: Tribesmen carrying spears and bows and arrows perform a traditional dance as spectators watch on

The event features mock battles of highland tribes of Dani, Yali and Lani to symbolise the high spirit and power that have been practised for generations

A family affair: A tribeswoman holds a baby on her shoulders while the youngster enjoys a snack

Connection: Two tribeswomen wearing traditional head wear share a conversation during the festival

Dani tribespeople participate in the 27th annual Baliem Valley Festival in Walesi district in Wamena

Security: The event took place under the watchful eye of Indonesian army soldiers

A tribesman holds a spear as he watches the annual festival with other men

This year the festival was held on the 8-10th of August in Wamena, Walesi Sub-district, Jayawijaya District, Papua, with some 200 foreign tourists watching 300 dancers

Men and women line up as they prepare to take place in a series of traditional dances and battle enactments

Cultural: Tribesmen and women mingle with the crowds that gathered the watch the event in Walesi district in Wamena, Papua Province

Those that attended the event were able to witness traditions that have been practised for generations

Traditional clothing was worn by those taking part while the men carried weapons

Two young children with colourful headwear watch events unfold during the festival

A group of men show off their traditional dancing as they gather for the 27th annual Baliem Valley Festival



