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

19th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Dance of the Possessed

Practiced in Java for centuries, it remains almost unknown to the outside world.Jathilan is a folk dance that uses the power of music and dance to channel powerful and sometimes frightening forces.Led by a spiritual guide and a whip-bearing ringleader (Pawang), a group of dancers ride woven horses in rhythmic unison until spirits enters them.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 02.2020
Date Uploaded: 11.2021
Photo Location: Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Camera: NIKON D810
Copyright: © Bungo Nakamura