Papua – Papua has various traditional games that are close to nature. Today’s children are accustomed to playing games through cell phones or computers. As information technology flows fast, children living in big cities to rural areas are immersed in digital games that often make them forget time. In contrast to that condition, let’s see what the Dani children play in the Baliem Valley, Papua.
Researcher at the Papuan Archaeology Center, Hari Suroto, said that Dani children in the Baliem Valley, Papua, have a variety of traditional games that are close to nature. “Dani children in the Baliem Valley are engrossed in the traditional life of the Papuan mountains,” said Hari Suroto.
After school, the children usually play in groups. The boys hunt for insects such as crickets, tonggeret, or grasshoppers. They burn the insects and then eat them together. Meanwhile, after school, Dani girls generally help their mothers in the garden or knit noken.
There are several traditional games that Dani children play in groups in the schoolyard or village field. The games include throwing sege (a kind of spear) and archery. “The one who can throw the sege the farthest wins,” said Hari Suroto, who is also a lecturer in archaeology at Cenderawasih University, Papua. “Likewise for those who are able to shoot right on target at the available objects. Of course he wins.”
Another game is puradan. This game is carried out by throwing wood or spears towards a target in the form of a rattan circle that is thrown on the ground and accelerates quickly. The one whose throw hits the target wins.
There is also a traditional wind instrument game called pikon. Pikon is made of bamboo slats and is similar to a harmonica. It takes skill to blow and vibrate the pikon to make a sound. Tourists can observe and participate in these traditional games at the Baliem Valley Cultural Festival, which takes place every August.
In the Baliem Valley Cultural Festival, there are also traditional games played by adults and of course prizes. One of the interesting competitions at the festival is the pig race, which is participated by women. Tourists may participate in the game.
Unlike the children of the Dani tribe who live in the Baliem Valley, the children of the Dani tribe who live in Wamena City, Papua, rarely hunt insects or play traditional games. According to Hari Suroto, they generally play soccer or volleyball.
