Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

13th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Pasola: let fly!

The festival of Pasola in Sumba, Indonesia, looks like a medieval jousting tournament - mounted warriors charge and throw spears at each other. In reality, however, it's more of a sacrificial ritual, the purpose being to fertilize the soil with spilled blood.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 02.2014
Date Uploaded: 11.2015
Photo Location: Indonesia
Camera: Canon EOS 50D
Copyright: © Mark Levitin