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The Indonesian archipelago consists of many small islands. Lombok is one of them and it lies in the southern chain of those islands that make the border of the Indian Ocean. Lombok is situated in the eastern zone of Bali. The exotic beaches of Lombok and also the peaceful atmosphere of the land attract millions of tourists every year. Lombok is a land of festival and various annual festivals are celebrated in this region. One such very famous festival is the Peraja Sepaer. The annual festival Peraja Sepaer is a part of the Lombok tradition. Peraja Sepaer is a festival that centers on the young boys of the land. In this festival they celebrate the attainment of adulthood of the young boys. On the day of the festival the teenage boys are lifted up in a palanquin. The palanquins need about two or four people to carry it. Then it is marched through out the entire village area. The palanquins are decorated heavily and these are ornamented in such a way that these look like flying tigers. Sometimes these are also decorated to resemble different types of cars, aeroplanes and many more vehicles. In this festival the young boys have to go through the process of circumcision. Circumcision is a religious ritual and it came into existence perhaps in the Stone Age. Know one knows from where this ritual originated. However, it has been mentioned in both Koran and the Old Testament of Bible. According to the Islamic faith and Jewish faith, circumcision is a kin of sacrifice. Through this process of circumcision, they offer a gesture of surrendering to the God. This ritual is also believed to be an attempt to change sexuality. Circumcision is not only a ritual in Lombok; rather this religious activity is practiced in various other countries as well such as the Muslim states of Malaysia, Central Asia, Indonesia and so on. In the Middle East countries and in North Africa also, this ritual is widely practiced. So be a part of this religious festival, Peraja Sepaer in Lombok and enjoy the festive mood. Try to visit the beautiful land of Lombok during the festive season.
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