Lego Lego Celebration

Lego Lego celebration

This is one of the last old traditions still alive in Alor.

The people will sing dance around this banyon tree all night and into the morning of the new year.

Gongs and leather drums are used to keep the rhythm during the lego lego dance on New Year’s eve on Pulau Pura.

For hours the people will dance around the big banyon tree singing with strong clear voices in perfect harmony.

They are tremendously strong people and can dance through the night and into the next day.

Pinky fingers interlocked, the Muslims and Christians dance together around the banyon proud of their peaceful co-existance.

They have the steps down pat and move as one. It is very touching to see such social unity.

The elders take a great deal of pride in the peaceful atmosphere found on their island.

Some villages are at war with each other in the hills of neighboring Alor Island regarding boundary disputes.

A few of the people have left everything behind and fled to Pulau Pura to escape the violence.

There are also refugees from East Timor sprinkled in the campur.

It is kind of a weird situation but foreigners are not affected as long as they don’t get involved in the disputes.

Andre celebrating the lego lego  on Pulau Pura below.

Lego Lego celebration

Pulau Pura