A view of a Karangasem resident’s yard where parents are drying various fabrics and paraphernalia for daha [young unmarried women] and teruna [young unmarried men] who will follow the Usaba Dangsil procession for several weeks. The last ceremony was held 14 years ago at Bungaya, one of the oldest villages in Karangasem, Bali. JP/ Luh De Suriyani

A boy gets help with his traditional attire. It consists of woven cloth, colorful shawls, sacres yellow fabric and a kris. JP/ Luh De Suriyani

Girls get dressed in the afternoon in preparation for a ritual that will last until dawn in a Hindu pura [temple] in late August. For 12 hours they stay awake and dance. Usaba Dangsil is a ritual to honor young people’s initiation and an education about tradition for young villagers. JP/ Luh De Suriyani

A Daha [young woman] sleeps while waiting for her turn to dance. The young participants are not allowed to eat, drink or carry their cell phones during the Usaba Dangsil ritual. JP/ Luh De Suriyani

The main ceremony of Usaba Dangsil in late August: the inauguration of the daha [young unmarried women] and teruna [young unmarried men] in preparation for the future generation. More than 500 young men and women who felt mentally and physically prepared joined the procession. JP/ Luh De Suriyani

Muslim women living in a Muslim kampung in the middle of Bungaya village, take a peek over a wall at the Hindu ritual. About 20 Muslim men from Sasak Lombok joined the thousands of Hindu men to carry a mountain of produce, which can weigh between 2 to 7 metric tons. JP/ Luh De Suriyani

The costumes for the young women are yellow cloth that is considered sacred by the villagers. The piece of cloth is treasured by each of the young men and women who have been inaugurated daha and teruna in Bungaya. The cloth will be carried to their graves, and the bearer cannot wash it or misplace it. JP/ Luh De Suriyani

Usaba Dangsil in late August is a grand affair involving tens of thousands of residents carrying seven giant towers as a symbol of prosperity and protection. All residents, visitors and officials who attend Usaba Dangsil must wear only kamen, or a sarung, without any adornments on their heads like udeng or jewelry. JP/ Luh De Suriyani

Tens of thousands of people participate in the majestic Usaba Dangsil ritual in Karangasem Bali, in late August. The seven giant pillars symbolize welfare and protection. JP/ Luh De Suriyani