‘Mahabandana’ by Naluri Manca and the Denpasar, Bali City Council: Remembering Bali’s Colonial Past for Unity in the Present
Mahabandana is an epic multidisciplinary public theatre performance held to commemorate 118 years of the Puputan Badung battle. Puputan Badung was a battle fought in 1906, in Badung Regency, Bali between Balinese people and Dutch Colonial Forces. The war began due to the Dutch enacted economic and maritime embargo. The term ‘Puputan’ itself refers to a Balinese military strategy where battles of attrition were fought, until every last of resource had been spent. This strategy includes the participation of women and children as battle warriors; and when all else had failed, it also called for mass ritual suicide over surrender.
Though Puputan Badung ended tragically with the Balinese people’s loss, the battle unified the people of Bali despite their varied socio-economic backgrounds. This inspired them to rise up together and gave them the courage to fight colonial forces. One of the key reasons behind this phenomenon, was the active participation of the then King of Badung, I Gusti Ngurah Made Agung, who lost his life in the battle. This proved the Balinese monarchy’s loyalty to its people, giving the resistance the full support of Balinese locals.
In today’s time, when Bali is faced with a set of new challenges rooted in over-tourism, the public theatre performance becomes a call for solidarity amongst the Balinese people. It rallies locals to stand tall and together protect their island once more. This is why Mahabandana by Naluri Manca and the Denpasar, Bali City Council is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Reduced Inequalities.
The organizers of Mahabandana made sure the performance was held on 20 September 2024, the battle’s very anniversary. It was also enacted for free to the public at the Puputan Badung Square, a landmark which was constructed to commemorate King I Gusti Ngurah Made Agung’s patriotism during the Puputan Badung battle. The performance came together due to the help of over 1,000 local artists—dancers, musicians, actors, stage designers and more to create a truly moving show of epic proportions.
The epic public theatre performance Mahabandana, organized by Naluri Manca and the Denpasar, Bali City Council, commemorates the 118th anniversary of the Puputan Badung battle. This multidisciplinary event reflects Bali’s colonial past, particularly the tragic yet unifying Puputan strategy, where Balinese people—including women and children—fought to their last breath against Dutch colonial forces in 1906. The performance honours the bravery and sacrifice of King I Gusti Ngurah Made Agung and calls for solidarity among Balinese locals today as they face modern challenges, like over-tourism. Through this powerful display, Mahabandana reinforces the message of unity, resilience, and collective protection of Bali.
Find out more about Mahabandana and other initiatives by Naluri Manca on their website www.nalurimanca.com or Instagram @nalurimanca and the Denpasar, Bali City Council on their website www.denpasarkota.go.id or Instagram @denpasarkota.